Sharks and Springbok winger Tonderai Chavhanga announced his retirement from the game towards the end of last week.
Using his Instagram account to share a collage of some of his favourite rugby memories, Chavhanga’s statement read as follows:
The wise King Solomon said “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. My season on the rugby field has come to an end and it is now time to embark on a new journey that I am anxiously excited about.
I would first and foremost like to thank my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for blessing me with athletic ability to play rugby. Rugby has taken me from my rural, humble beginnings, put me through school, provided a life that I could only dream of and has inspired me to strive for greater than my social circumstances. Rugby has also given me a platform to help and motivate others to dream bigger, work harder and not allow themselves to be a statistic. Throughout my 12 years of playing rugby, I have been privileged to do what I love as a career, meet amazing people, play for outstanding unions, travel the world, work alongside legends of the game, and these are endless memories that I will forever cherish.
The highs and lows that come with being a rugby player were much easier to handle because of beautiful wife, my ride or die who has been my shoulder to lean on through it all. Thank you for your limitless love, support and sacrifice. Thank you to my two most precious angels, my kids who have blessed me with so much love, happiness and fulfillment, I live and work hard to make you proud of me. Thank you to my family who have supported and believed in me since day one.
I would like to thank all the coaches I have been involved with especially Themba Mliswa and Gerald Maguranyanga who introduced me to this amazing sport, the late Springbok Ian Robertson and Patrick Gumunyu who were my coaches at Prince Edward School. Rassie Erasmas who believed in me so much that he used his own money to pay my salary when I was a junior player and most importantly Jake White who afforded me the honour of becoming a Springbok and who has shown me incredible support throughout my career.
We may not have seen Tondie at his peak in a Sharks jersey, but I’m glad that the black and white has managed to play at least a small part in his amazing rugby journey. Let’s wish him all the best as he embarks on his next chapter.
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thank you for your efforts
I remember when you player for wp/stormers, I was a huge fan back then already even though you played for another union
good luck with your life after pro rugby my friend
we wish you all of the best
A beautifully written retirement statement. Tondie is just pure class. All the best, I’m just sorry your career was not more “injury free”.
Always remember the matchwinner in the Super 12 QF – pure class is right.
Great retirement piece, and all the best to Tondie going forward, looks like the priorities are firmly in place.
it’s just so hard to feel anything other than utmost respect and admiration for this guy.
“The Book of Ecclesiastes does not directly identify its author. There are quite a few verses that imply Solomon wrote this book. There are some clues in the context that may suggest a different person wrote the book after Solomon’s death, possibly several hundred years later. Still, the conventional belief is that the author is indeed Solomon.”
Best of luck for the future and we believe that like in rugby you will make a success of it!!!! Go well fast man!!!!
Sad that we couldn’t see more of him for the Sharks….but what a guy, class on and off the field.
Let’s hope that he’s not completely lost to rugby….as he surely has the character to instill a lot of values into young rugby players.
Rugby, and pro sport in general, need more like him. Good luck with your after rugby life and thanks for the spirit and humility in which you played the game.
That’s sad news. I would loved to see him one or two more seasons. Incredibly exciting when he caught the ball on speed and opened up those amazing jets….Probably the fastest winger I’ve ever seen.
You were missed this year, Tondie, and we’ll miss seeing you lighting up the field. Your joy on the rugby field was a sight to behold and you made the game that much better.
Thanks for the memories and all of the best for life outside of rugby!
Good luck to you on your next adventure Tondi and thanks for all the memories! I’ll repeat what others have said, wish there were more players of your stature in rugby
All the best Tondie in life after rugby!
He certainly had a very good work ethic, was always in top shape, the new generation could certainly learn a thing or two from true professionals like him.
Such a gentleman and a guy who really enjoyed every moment out on the field.
Wish we’d seen more of you in a Sharks jersey Tondie. Good luck and God bless for the future.
Good luck in your future endeavors, Tondie!
This a seriously good man,very humble,maybe too humble.His career was mismanaged and he should have got everything out of rugby that Habbanna has.In my opinion he was a better player,but then I am biased.
Good luck with your future Tonderai, wish we saw more of you here at the sharks.
Can someone close to him please ask him why he, like AJ Venter never turned out for the Bulls?
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Rob that is not entirely true, the first and 12 verse clearly self-identifies the author. I am not sure of the various translations, but the Hebrew first verse states, “Divrei Kohelet ben David, melech Yerushalayim.” Now that is a very clear statement that translates as “Words of Kohelet son of David, King of Jerusalem.” Now there is only one son of David that was King of Jerusalem (Solomon). Verse 12 states, “Ani Kohelet hayiti melech al yisrael vyerushalayim.” Which is also a very simple translation to “I am Kohelet, who was king of Israel and Jerusalem.” These two verses clearly self identify the author as Solomon. In addition, talmudic Jewish writings refer to Solomon by three names, Solomon, Kohelet, and Yedida. Kohelet is a derivation from the Hebrew word “Kohel” which means assemble, because he assembled such a wealth of knowledge.
So the book of Kohelet or Ecclesiastes does indeed self identify the author. Of course that does not rule out the possibility someone wrote it much later and claimed to be Solomon.
The Jewish belief is that Solomon composed Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs while on his death bed, and each was written down by King Hezkiah.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 18) : ok, thanks for educating me.
To provide some context as to why I posted what I did, I actually had no idea who wrote Ecclesiastes, but obviously recognized the verse in Tondie’s statement (Prediker drie – had that drummed into us) and then did some googling.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 18) : @robdylan (Comment 19) : I must say, I’m seriously impressed by your biblical knowledge. The only verse I can still (sort of) remember at this stage of my life is the one about the one ring to bind them all…
@Culling Song (Comment 20) : well played! That’s my morning belly laugh all sorted
Cheers Tonderai, all the best for the future, I hope it treats you well. As for Rassie ERasmus, you are a good man.