Thembani Mkokeli
| Full name | Thembani Moeren Mkokeli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 12 March 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | East London, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 77 kg (12 st 2 lb; 170 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Msobomvu High School, Butterworth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Damelin College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Thembani Moeren Mkokeli (born 12 March 1984 in East London, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Template:Rut Border Bulldogs.[1] He is a utility back that predominantly play as a fly-half or fullback, but also occasionally as a winger or centre.
Career
Youth
Mkokeli played for the Template:Rut Border Bulldogs side at the 2000 Under-18 Craven Week tournament in Port Elizabeth.[2] He played for the Template:Rut Border U19 side in 2001 (as a 17-year-old) and 2002 and earned a call-up to the South African Schools sides in the same seasons.[3] In 2002, he was also named in the South African Under-19 side that played in the 2002 Under 19 Rugby World Championship in Italy[4] and was once again included in the team for the 2003 tournament in Paris,[5] from which the team returned victorious, their first win since 1994.[6]
Border Bulldogs
Upon his return from the Under-19 Rugby World Championship, Mkokeli was also included in the senior squad for the first time and made his first team debut in the 2003 Currie Cup against the Template:Rut Leopards in Potchefstroom.[7] He quickly established himself as a regular for the Bulldogs and became a regular fixture in the Border Bulldogs side over the next decade.
During the 2014 Currie Cup qualification series, Mkokeli reached a personal milestone by playing in his hundredth first class match for the Template:Rut Border Bulldogs.[8]
References
- ^ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Thembani Mkokeli". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "OP se Craven Week begin op laagtepunt" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 11 June 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Vyftienjarige gekies vir SA Skolespan" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 15 July 2002. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Jong Bokkies slyp in Kaap vir Italië" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 8 March 2002. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "SA o.19-span vertrek" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 8 April 2003. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Jong Bokkies kry helde-ontvangs" (in Afrikaans). Die Burger. 23 April 2003. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 46–30 Spoornet Bulldogs". South African Rugby Union. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Mylpaal wink vir Mkokeli" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.