Bongiwe Nhleko Sets Sight on a Third Consecutive Title with Bulls Daisies

The Bulls Daisies continue to assert their dominance in the Women’s Premier Division, firmly holding onto the top spot on the log with a four-point lead over the second-placed Sanlam Boland Dames. As two-time defending champions, the team is determined to secure a third consecutive title, making every match crucial in their journey. After a brief mid-season break, the Daisies return to action this weekend, preparing to face Border, the pride of the Eastern Cape and the 2020 Women’s Premier Division winners. Springboks Women: 7s Fixtures

The stakes are high as the Bulls Daisies gear up for the remainder of the season, and their coaching staff plays a pivotal role in ensuring continued success. Among them is newly appointed assistant coach, Bongiwe Nhleko, a former player turned mentor whose journey into coaching is as inspiring as it is impactful.

Bongiwe Nhleko © Gallo Images

Nhleko is carving a path for women in rugby coaching, proving that passion, hard work, and resilience can break barriers. Recently appointed as the assistant coach of the Bulls Daisies, Nhleko’s journey is one of determination, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the development of women’s rugby in South Africa.

Hailing from Meadowlands, Nhleko’s journey into the sporting world began with touch rugby. As both a player and a coach, she excelled in the discipline, but her transition into rugby was somewhat unexpected. Before making the switch to playing, Nhleko had already spent a decade working with the Golden Lions U16 and U18 girls’ teams, assisting in administrative roles for their youth tournaments from 2009. “I was a touch rugby player and coach before and a friend of mine asked me to join her and play Rugby in 2015, before then I always assisted with the Golden Lions U16 and U18 girls weeks tournaments, doing administration for them for about +-10 years from 2009,”  said Nhleko.

Bongiwe Nhleko © X (@BullsDaisies)

Nhleko’s coaching career took a significant turn five years ago when she was offered the role of head coach for the University of Johannesburg (UJ) women’s rugby first team. Initially, coaching rugby wasn’t part of her plan, as she had focused on netball, touch rugby, and basketball. “[In] 2020 the University of Johannesburg asked me to become a coach for their first team rugby girls. I’ve always believed that I was gifted at working with people as I enjoyed so much coaching netball, touch rugby and basketball, never did I think of coaching rugby. I then took the challenge and started educating myself more as a rugby coach. Within the years of coaching I have managed to produce many provincial and national players.”

Nhleko's ability to identify and develop talent has led to many of her players earning provincial and national team call-ups, a testament to her coaching prowess.

She looked back and marvelled over one of the pivotal moments in her career to this day, saying: “My biggest highlight was last year coaching the SA 7s University team and getting called up to coach the Daisies. What really inspired me to keep going with coaching is the amount of lives you get to touch because not only are you a technical or tactical coach but you're a mother, mentor and many other things, empowering, encouraging and giving hope."

Now stepping into her role as assistant coach, Nhleko is determined to guide the Bulls Daisies successfully to their third consecutive championship and defend their title at the end of the season and uphold the winning culture at the club, in her words, she simply said:“ [By the end of the season, we want to be] 3 Peat Champions and hoping to get more girls into the springbok set up and overseas.” Bulls Daisies Fixtures

Bulls Daisies © Gallo Images

Despite the challenges women’s rugby faces, Nhleko remains optimistic about the future and is passionate about encouraging young girls to pursue the sport. “Take that first step because you might just be the change for women challenging or changing the norms,” she urges. “Get involved now so you can be part of the change in women making the change. Don’t hold back—our time is NOW!”

For Nhleko, rugby has always been more than just a sport—it’s a way of life. Her journey into coaching has been shaped by a deep passion for the game and a relentless commitment to self-improvement. "Sports has changed my life so much, I can’t even imagine where I could have been if I stopped listening to my coaches. I’m so inspired to give back the love to the nation through coaching.”

While rugby remains a significant part of her life, Nhleko also dedicates time to her personal interests and growth. She finds solace in her faith, often reading the Word and continuously seeking ways to enhance her knowledge of rugby analysis. Spending quality time with her family has become a top priority, allowing her to maintain balance amidst the demands of coaching. Another lesser-known aspect of her life is her passion for singing. “Lol, I am a worshipper at church,” she shares with a smile, revealing a different side of her beyond the rugby field.

Her rapid rise in the coaching ranks saw her leading various teams to success. Some of her notable achievements include:

Serving as the head coach for both the Varsity Cup 7s and 15s rugby teams.

Coaching the SA 7s University Sports team in France.

Working as an assistant coach for the Golden Lions senior women’s team.

Being the Director of Sports at Greenside High School, further nurturing young talent.

Coordinating the Laureus YES Youth program, an initiative that empowers young leaders through sports.

Facilitating global team-building sessions with Reach Sports SA.

Contributing to the NBA Basketball Without Borders Africa program in South Africa in 2024.

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