Victor Sekekete
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Victor Sekekete
| image =
| fullname = Victor Kutlwano Sekekete
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|01|28|df=y}}
| birth_place = Johannesburg, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.96}}
| weight = {{cvt|101|kg|lb stlb}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Queens High School
| university =
| relatives =
| currentclub = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} / {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| youthyears1 = 2012–2015
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| years1 = 2015–2017
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}
| apps1 = 14
| points1 = 5
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}
| apps2 = 3
| points2 = 5
| years3 = 2017–2018
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps3 = 2
| points3 = 5
| years4 = 2017–2018
| clubs4 = {{Rut|Southern Kings}}
| apps4 = 4
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2019–2020
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| apps5 = 17
| points5 = 10
| years6 = 2020–
| clubs6 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| apps6 = 0
| points6 = 0
| years7 = 2020–
| clubs7 = {{Rut|Free State Cheetahs}}
| apps7 = 25
| points7 = 10
| amatyears1 = 2014
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UJ}}
| amatapps1 = 8
| amatpoints1 = 0
| repyears1 = 2014
| repteam1 = South Africa Under-20
| repcaps1 = 1
| reppoints1 = 0
| clubupdate = 10 July 2022
| repupdate = 17 April 2018
}}
Victor Kutlwano Sekekete (born 28 January 1994) is a South African professional rugby union player for {{Rut|Griquas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=117311 | name=Victor Sekekete | date=19 August 2016}} His regular position is flanker, but he also played as a lock earlier in his career.
Rugby career
=2012 : Schoolboy rugby=
Sekekete was born in Johannesburg, where he attended Queens High School. In 2012, he was selected to represent the Golden Lions at the premier rugby union competition for high schools in South Africa, the Under-18 Craven Week.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=13721 | team=Lions | compid=1401 | comp=2012 U18 Craven Week | access-date=19 August 2016}} He started all three of their matches as a lock, as his team qualified to play in the unofficial final match of the tournament, where they lost to Gauteng rivals the Blue Bulls.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=112981 | homeid=13871 | awayid=13721 | leagueid=1401 | hometeam=Blue Bulls | homescore=47 | awayscore=0 | awayteam=Lions | matchdate=14 July 2012 | date=19 August 2016}}
=2013–2015 : Youth rugby=
After school, Sekekete joined the Golden Lions academy. He featured in all fourteen of the {{Rut|Golden Lions U19}} team's matches in the 2013 Under-19 Provincial Championship, starting thirteen of those and playing off the bench in the other. He scored three tries during the season – one against the {{Rut|Free State U19}}s{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108764 | homeid=14524 | awayid=14464 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=26 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=Toyota Free State | matchdate=27 July 2013 | date=19 August 2016}} and one in each of their matches against the {{Rut|Leopards U19}}s.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=108784 | homeid=14514 | awayid=14524 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=Leopards | homescore=27 | awayscore=34 | awayteam=MTN Golden Lions | matchdate=2 August 2013 | date=19 August 2016}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=109004 | homeid=14524 | awayid=14514 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=32 | awayscore=27 | awayteam=Leopards | matchdate=20 September 2013 | date=19 August 2016}} The Golden Lions topped the log to qualify for the semi-finals,{{SA Rugby Log | id=1424 | comp=2013 Absa Under 19 Competition | date=19 August 2016}} at which stage they beat {{Rut|Sharks U19}} 27–25,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=109114 | homeid=14524 | awayid=14504 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=27 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=The Sharks U19 | matchdate=18 October 2013 | date=19 August 2016}} before losing 23–35 in the final against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=109124 | homeid=14524 | awayid=14474 | leagueid=1424 | hometeam=MTN Golden Lions | homescore=23 | awayscore=35 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=26 October 2013 | date=19 August 2016}}
Sekekete started the 2014 season by playing in the Varsity Cup competition for {{Rut|UJ}}, being utilised as a flanker for the first time. He featured in all seven of their matches in a disappointing season that saw the team finish second-bottom of the log{{SA Rugby Log | id=1694 | comp=2014 FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International | date=19 August 2016}} which meant they had to compete in a relegation play-off to retain their Varsity Cup status. Sekete started the play-off match in which UJ easily beat Varsity Shield runners-up {{Rut|UKZN Impi}} to remain in the top tier.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121174 | homeid=18674 | awayid=18684 | leagueid=1854 | hometeam=FNB UJ | homescore=42 | awayscore=8 | awayteam=FNB UKZN | matchdate=7 April 2014 | date=19 August 2016}}
Sekekete was then included in the South Africa Under-20 squad that competed at the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship in New Zealand. He was not included in the squad for their opening match in Pool C, a 61–5 victory over Scotland,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=124594 | homeid=20804 | awayid=20814 | leagueid=2034 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=61 | awayscore=5 | awayteam=Scotland | matchdate=2 June 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} but played off the bench in their next match, a 33–24 victory over the hosts.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=124664 | homeid=20824 | awayid=20804 | leagueid=2034 | hometeam=New Zealand | homescore=24 | awayscore=33 | awayteam=South Africa | matchdate=6 June 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} He was named on the bench for their remaining three fixtures in the competition – a 21– win over Samoa to secure top spot in Pool C to qualify for the semi-finals,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=124714 | homeid=20834 | awayid=20804 | leagueid=2034 | hometeam=Samoa | homescore=8 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=South Africa | matchdate=10 June 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} a 32–25 win over New Zealand in the semi-finals{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=124784 | homeid=20804 | awayid=20824 | leagueid=2034 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=32 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=New Zealand | matchdate=15 June 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} and a 20–21 loss to England in the final{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=124844 | homeid=20744 | awayid=20804 | leagueid=2034 | hometeam=England | homescore=21 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=South Africa | matchdate=20 June 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} – but failed to get any game time in those matches.
Sekekete returned to domestic action by making twelve appearances for the {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}} team in the 2014 Under-21 Provincial Championship. He scored two tries during the competition – both in a 113–3 victory over {{Rut|Border U21}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=120884 | homeid=18514 | awayid=18464 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Golden Lions U21 | homescore=113 | awayscore=3 | awayteam=Border U21 | matchdate=16 August 2014 | date=19 August 2016}} – as the Golden Lions finished in third spot on the log{{SA Rugby Log | id=1834 | comp=2014 Absa Under 21 Competition | date=19 August 2016}} before losing to the Blue Bulls in the semi-finals, the only match of the season that Sekekete did not feature in.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=121154 | homeid=18454 | awayid=18514 | leagueid=1834 | hometeam=Blue Bulls U21 | homescore=23 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=17 October 2014 | date=19 August 2016}}
Sekekete made his domestic first class debut on 13 March 2015, appearing as a replacement in the {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}'s 31–21 victory over the {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=140214 | homeid=24614 | awayid=24324 | leagueid=2304 | hometeam=Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls | homescore=21 | awayscore=31 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions | matchdate=13 March 2015 | date=19 August 2016}} his only appearance in the competition. He again featured in every match for the {{Rut|Golden Lions U21}} team in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship. In his most prolific season so far in his career, he scored tries against the Sharks,{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147024 | homeid=27004 | awayid=27034 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Sharks U21 | homescore=20 | awayscore=19 | awayteam=Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=22 August 2015 | date=19 August 2016}} Eastern Province and{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147264 | homeid=27034 | awayid=27024 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Golden Lions U21 | homescore=40 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=EP Kings U21 | matchdate=5 September 2015 | date=19 August 2016}} Leopards{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147214 | homeid=27034 | awayid=27054 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Golden Lions U21 | homescore=56 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Leopards U21 | matchdate=10 October 2015 | date=19 August 2016}} during the regular season, and another one in their 20–43 defeat to Western Province in the semi-finals of the competition.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=147234 | homeid=26994 | awayid=27034 | leagueid=2544 | hometeam=Western Province U21 | homescore=43 | awayscore=20 | awayteam=Golden Lions U21 | matchdate=17 October 2015 | date=19 August 2016}}
=2016–present : Golden Lions=
Sekekete's second taste of domestic first class action came in the 2016 Currie Cup qualification series for the Golden Lions XV, making two starts and coming on as a reserve in six matches, scoring a brace of tries in their final match in the competition, a 24–28 loss to the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} in Grabouw.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=160104 | homeid=30734 | awayid=30804 | leagueid=2824 | hometeam=Boland Cavaliers | homescore=28 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Xerox Golden Lions XV | matchdate=23 July 2016 | date=19 August 2016}}
Sekekete was included in the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}' Currie Cup squad for the first time for the 2016 season.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=33704 | team=Xerox Golden Lions | compid=3044 | comp=2016 Currie Cup Premier Division | access-date=19 August 2016}} He was named on the bench for their opening match of the season against the {{Rut|Pumas}} and made his Currie Cup debut by coming on for the final twelve minutes of a 68–26 victory.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=166124 | homeid=33704 | awayid=33674 | leagueid=3044 | hometeam=Xerox Golden Lions | homescore=68 | awayscore=26 | awayteam=Steval Pumas | matchdate=13 August 2016 | date=19 August 2016}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Ospreys squad}}
{{Free State Cheetahs squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sekekete, Victor}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Rugby union players from Johannesburg
Category:South Africa Under-20 international rugby union players
Category:Southern Kings players
Category:21st-century South African sportsmen
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:Griquas (rugby union) players
Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players