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Have the Kings found their coach?

The Southern Kings won’t play against this year and their franchise status remains in doubt.

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However, there are some ambitious individuals in the Port Elizabeth-based outfit ready to step in if they return to the playing field.

Kings Director of Rugby Robbi Kempson, also the team’s interim coach, believes Vuyo Zangqa is ready to take over once he steps down.

Zangqa, a former national Sevens star turned coach, recently put his hand up for the coaching job in Port Elizabeth.

He has the full backing of Kempson, who is keen to step away from a hands-on coaching position into a more administrative role and focus of his Director of Rugby duties.

Kempson is seeing this as an opportunity for a ‘younger coach’.

“We’d probably have to look at exactly what [the term] young coach is,” Zangqa quipped in a recent media briefing.

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“I have 10 years of coaching experience now, so looking at that, I would definitely look at being a head coach at the Kings,” he added.

Zangqa admitted it wasn’t his call.

“It all depends on what Robbie Kempson is looking for in the coach. Do I fit the profile or not?

“I am happy to take over the team at any time. I have built up enough experience over the past few years, to be able to take over,” said Zangqa, a former Border Bulldogs and Eastern Province Kings player.

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He also got the backing he required when Kempson told a media briefing he supports Zangqa.

“I’ve got absolutely no problem with stepping aside and giving a coach like Vuyo an opportunity, as I did with Sticky [Mzwandile Stick] back in the day,” the Kings boss said.

“I do think he has grown immensely throughout this competition [Pro14].

“The way he embraced Swys du Bruin, coming to join us, took on every bit of information from a guy like Swys, who has an incredible knowledge of the game.

“I think he is more than capable of taking on a head coach role going forward,” Kempson added.

The former SA Sevens stalwart saw his playing career brought to an unfortunate and premature end by a car accident.

Zangqa made a smooth transition into coaching.

He first helped Paul Treu with the Kenya national Sevens team and got a position with the German team, then returned to Port Elizabeth and took up an assistant coaching position at the Kings.

By Yolulwe Qoshe
@Prince_Yyoza
@rugby365com

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