Gemmie Khanya Kama one of four players that impressed in Varsity Shield openers

The FNB Varsity Shield 2025 kicked off in fine fashion last week, and the first round produced unforgettable thrillers even at this early stage of the competition.

One round into the marathon, and Sol Plaatje University’s opponents this week, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), find themselves at the top of the competition log with a healthy points difference of 31. However, three other teams also have five points: Varsity College (points difference 26), UWC (17), and Kimberley’s own SPU (4).

Sol Plaatje University (SPU), after their exciting win over UKZN find themselves in that mix, thanks to the Gemmies team digging deep when it mattered most.

Meanwhile, Varsity College enjoyed a successful tournament opener against the Madibaz, while UWC and CPUT, both from Cape Town, secured wins at home.

Though the picture may change quite a bit by next weekend, we can at least look at some of the bright lights of the tournament up to this point. Which players have made us sit up and take notice?

Let’s start with top dogs CPUT and their versatile Bongani Gumbi who had a standout debut; yes, this was his first Varsity Shield match.

Gumbi exhibited bravery, blistering speed, intelligent decisions, and a consistent ability to give the opposition’s defenses a headache, breaking through them at will, all of which led to the team’s victory.

Though he scored just one try, his presence on the field made the 41-10 hammering possible.

Oh, guess what … the Gemmies will have to endure Gumbi’s continued reign of terror when SPU hosts CPUT at Suzuki Park on Friday in their game kicking off at 5pm.

This game promises to be a cracker, with CPUT twice having won the competition (2019 and 2021) and Gemmies on their home turf, eager to prove that their opening victory was no fluke.

Elsewhere, Varsity College’s 40-14 win over the Madibaz saw their on-field general, flyhalf Frederick Marx pulling the strings. Marx contributed 10 points, but his winning the FNB Player That Rocks award for the match tells the rest of the story.

The plucky flyhalf kept his opponents guessing, and his over-80% success rate off the tee is something opposing teams need to be aware of. Marx has shown that he is capable of punishing careless teams.

Gemmies will keep tabs on this game, especially with SPU scheduled to face Varsity college next Friday, February 28, at the Suzuki Stadium, in a match under lights kicking off at 7pm.

The other Cape side in the top four, UWC, had centre J’que Huckins to thank for their 50-33 win over WSU

Huckins delivered a standout performance with two brilliant tries in their opening game. In his first try, the agile outside center ran a powerful line, capitalising on the WSU defense's weakness.

His second try was a display of his quick thinking, as he intercepted a pass. It’s clear that his ability to read the game on both attack and defense makes him a crucial player for UWC as the tournament proceeds.

And finally, this list would not be complete without mentioning SPU’s Khanya Kama, the Gemmies centre that played a vital role in the Kimberley side’s 41-37 win over a powerful UKZN side.

Kama was a points machine on the day, slotting five penalties, and bossing the midfield in devasting fashion. His ability to step his way through defenders, leaving them scratching their heads contributed to his side's victory.

Quite deservedly, Kama earned the FNB Player That Rocks award for his efforts.

And he would do well to bring this sparkling form to Friday’s game against CPUT, because Gemmies will need it.