Wiseman Kamanga

Wiseman Kamanga

Personal information
Full name	Fhumulani Wiseman Kamanga
Born	14 November 1991 Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	115 kg (18 st 2 lb)
School(s) attended	Hoërskool Marais Viljoen, Alberton
University	University of Johannesburg
Club information
Playing position	Loosehead prop
Youth career
2007–2012	Golden Lions
Amateur team(s)
Years	Team
2013–2014	UJ	16	(10)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Pts)^†
2011–2013	Golden Lions	4	(0)
2015	Griquas	8	(5)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 12 October 2015. † Appearances (Points).

Fhumulani Wiseman Kamanga (born 14 November 1991 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, who most recently played provincial rugby with Griquas.^[1] His regular position is loosehead prop.

Career

Youth / Golden Lions / UJ

Kamanga was selected to a number of Golden Lions youth sides during his high school years at Hoërskool Marais Viljoen in Alberton; he represented them at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week tournament in 2007, at the Under-18 Academy Week tournament in 2008 and at the Under-18 Craven Week tournament in 2009.

He joined the Golden Lions' academy in 2010 and played for the Golden Lions U19 side in the Under-19 Provincial Championship of that year. He was included in a training squad for the South Africa Under-20 squad prior to the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship,^[2] but missed out on selection for the final squad.

In March 2012, Kamanga made his first class debut, coming on as a replacement in the Golden Lions Vodacom Cup match against the Leopards in Potchefstroom.^[3] He made another appearance off the bench the following week against the Falcons^[4] and then made his first senior start against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria, where he found himself on the wrong end of a 49–10 defeat.^[5]

He was a regular in the Golden Lions U21 squad that played in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, starting ten of their twelve matches as they failed to qualify for the semi-finals by finishing in fifth spot.

Kamanga joined university side UJ for their 2013 Varsity Cup campaign, where he was the first-choice loosehead prop, playing in all eight of their matches as they reached the semi-final of the competition. He also scored a try against fellow Johannesburg-based university side Wits.^[6] After the Varsity Cup competition, he made one appearance in the 2013 Vodacom Cup, playing off the bench in their match against Griquas in a 24–11 victory at the UJ Stadium.^[7]

He had another season of Varsity Cup rugby with UJ in 2014, making a total of 7 appearances. After UJ finished a lowly seventh to qualify for the relegation play-offs, Kamanga featured in a further match, scoring a late try as they secured a 42–8 victory over UKZN Impi to remain in the Varsity Cup competition for 2015.

Griquas

Kamanga didn't feature in UJ's 2015 campaign, instead opting to move to Kimberley where he signed a contract with Griquas for the 2015 season.^[8]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Wiseman Kamanga". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "Drie O. 20's kry 'n ekstra kans" (in Afrikaans). Son. 16 January 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
3. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Leopards 23-16 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 10 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 59-29 Valke". South African Rugby Union. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
5. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Vodacom Blue Bulls 49-10 MTN Golden Lions". South African Rugby Union. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB Wits 24-63 FNB UJ". South African Rugby Union. 25 February 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 24-11 GWK Griquas". South African Rugby Union. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
8. "Wehr glo hy kan gedy in GW-trui" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2015.