When Namhla Siyolo received her invitation to South Africa’s first standalone World Rugby Level 3 course for women, her thoughts turned immediately to her daughter. “It’s not just a certificate; it’s a responsibility. As a mother and coach, you don’t take opportunities for granted. Strong mothers build strong teams,” the Gqeberha coach said.
Siyolo, head coach of the Madibaz women’s rugby side, joined the country’s leading women’s coaches at Riebeek-Kasteel in the Western Cape from October 23 to 28 for the landmark six-day workshop. It was the first time a course of this kind had been run exclusively for women, a milestone in SA Rugby’s efforts to widen opportunities across genders and part of the governing body’s broader Destination 2027 strategic plan, which identifies, prepares and develops female coaches for elite and high-performance environments.
The event gathered 23 participants from South Africa alongside three from Kenya and Zimbabwe. Siyolo’s place came after Eastern Province Rugby nominated her, a recognition she describes as deeply meaningful. “To be included is a huge honour. It shows SA Rugby is investing in coaches, not just players,” she said.
For Siyolo, the week represented the next step in a personal development journey that began with her BokSmart certification. But she arrived with ambitions that went well beyond collecting another qualification. “I’m expecting to grow from a Level 2 coach, who runs sessions, to someone who builds programmes,” she said beforehand.
Her goals for the course were specific. She hoped to sharpen her tactical understanding, improve her people-management skills and learn how to construct comprehensive season plans. Underpinning all of it, she said, is the challenge of balancing the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of performance with the welfare of the players themselves. Two areas stood out as particularly important: defining clearer tactical roles within a team, and improving her grasp of the psychological demands placed on female student-athletes.
“I want to learn how to coach a person before a player, and how to manage pressure,” she explained as she departed.
Those priorities reflect the immediate ambitions she carries back to Gqeberha. Siyolo wants to establish the Madibaz among the top four University Sports SA institutions and qualify for the Varsity Cup. She also intends to keep mentoring players for the Eastern Province Queens, which she sees as a pathway to the Springbok team. Before pursuing opportunities inside the national coaching structure, she believes it matters to contribute at provincial level first.
Armed with the skills from the week, she believes she can build a more sustainable system for developing players while strengthening the culture and structures around them. The learning environment itself left a mark. Being surrounded by the country’s top women’s coaches, she said, had been “gold”, and she likened the experience to ubuntu, the philosophy of “I am because we are”. Her appetite for growth remains undimmed: “Rugby changes every season. If you stop learning, you stop coaching.”
Beyond the tactics and the season plans, the course carried personal weight for Siyolo. She wants to inspire other women who are juggling family responsibilities with professional ambition, and she thought of her daughter the moment the invitation arrived. The certificate, in her eyes, carries an obligation that extends far past the classroom in Riebeek-Kasteel.
In the end, she said, the work comes back to her children. “I coach because I want them to see a woman can lead and be strong, but soft too. I do it for her.”