Franco Engelbrecht. PHOTO: Contributed
Franco Engelbrecht. PHOTO: Contributed

Sports star of the week

Mamsey Musweu
Franco Engelbrecht, a dedicated rugby player for Privaatskool Moria’s OK Foods “Bere,” has long nurtured a passion for the game.

Reflecting on his journey, Engelbrecht revealed that his dream of playing rugby began at a young age. “I think from a young age, any Namibian or South African dreams of playing rugby. I\'ve always wanted to play, and that’s what inspired me.”

Asked about the proudest moment in his sporting career, Engelbrecht did not hesitate. “My proudest moment was definitely when we won the final against Windhoek High School Kudus last weekend,” he said, adding that it marked a milestone that defined his early career.

Balancing schoolwork and sports can be challenging, but Engelbrecht credits his success to effective time management. “The most important thing is time management. I’ve noticed that the busier I am with sport, the better I do at school.”

Like many athletes, Engelbrecht has faced his share of challenges. “Sport is really like a rollercoaster. You can be on a high, jogging on the field, and then suddenly get injured. The only way to overcome it is to go back and work twice as hard,” he said, emphasising the resilience required to succeed.

When it comes to role models, Engelbrecht admires rugby superstar Pieter-Steph du Toit. “He’s my hard-working example on the field. He never gives up and is a big inspiration to me.”

Looking ahead, Engelbrecht is focused on inspiring others rather than pursuing rugby as a full-time career. “I don’t think I want to make rugby my full-time career; I rather want to inspire as many people as possible to play because it really is a lot of fun. If I go to university, I’d definitely like to play for the university team,” he said.

Engelbrecht’s dedication, resilience and passion for rugby make him a promising young athlete and an inspiration to aspiring players across Namibia.

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-13

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