Scrumhalf Imad Khan is relishing the chance to proceed his growth as DHL Western Province make their return to DHL Stadium within the Carling Currie Cup this Saturday.
The 20-year-old is popping heads on this 12 months’s version of rugby’s oldest competitors as he blossoms inside a youthful DHL Western Province squad. Having made his senior debut for the DHL Stormers in 2023, Khan’s journey has been a whirlwind of fast development and attention-grabbing performances.
Khan’s aptitude for assault, honed via his time with the DHL Western Province juniors and Junior Springboks, has made him an ideal match for the staff’s dynamic model of play.
With 4 successive begins main as much as Saturday’s Spherical 5 Carling Currie Cup conflict in opposition to the NovaVit Griffons at DHL Stadium, Khan is seizing each alternative to hone his craft within the DHL Western Province No.9 jersey.
“The Carling Currie Cup is a really particular competitors and it’s at all times a privilege to be taking part in in it,” Khan mentioned. “Not everybody will get such alternatives at senior stage, so I’m seizing these alternatives and classes with each fingers each week.”
Khan’s growth has been examined in opposition to formidable opposition this season. His appearances embody a North-South conflict in opposition to the Vodacom Bulls, a face-off with defending Carling Currie Cup champions Toyota Cheetahs, a 10-try rout of the NovaVit Griffons, and a latest rematch in opposition to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“The competitors itself has a lot historical past and all of our video games have been in opposition to high quality groups,” Khan mentioned. “You’re taking part in in opposition to just a few Springboks in groups just like the Vodacom Bulls, so I’m attempting to study as a lot as I can.”
Khan’s laborious work paid off spectacularly when he scored his first Carling Currie Cup strive in opposition to the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“The bounce of the ball might’ve gone both manner, however scoring my first strive within the Carling Currie Cup is particular,” he added. “It actually was a cheerful second for me and a fantastic expertise at this high stage of rugby.”
Studying from seasoned scrumhalves throughout the ranks of the DHL Stormers and DHL Western Province, Khan is impressed by teammates Herschel Jantjies, Paul de Moist, Stefan Ungerer, and Labib Kannemeyer.
“I feed off and study from every participant about any a part of my recreation that I can enhance on,” he defined. “The kicking from the bottom and exiting as a No. 9 has developed exponentially.
“It’s turn into fairly an essential instrument in a scrumhalf’s arsenal, and the DHL Western Province teaching employees are committing a variety of effort and time into this a part of my recreation.”
Khan’s dedication to mastering the basics is unwavering: “There’s fairly a little bit of satisfaction to see all that apply and laborious work repay in a match, but it surely’s nonetheless a piece in progress and there’s at all times room for enchancment, particularly as I advance in my profession.”
Surrounded by fellow promising children like Divan Fuller and Jonathan Roche, Khan is a part of a cohort fast-tracked by the DHL Western Province coaches to realize publicity and construct depth for the DHL Stormers. The rigorous marketing campaign within the Carling Currie Cup serves as a crucible for Khan’s growth.
“The one manner you as a participant enhance is by being positioned in actual match conditions,” Khan emphasised. “You possibly can apply and discuss the sport as a lot as you need, however the one manner you study and get higher is if you happen to’re in these robust conditions, experiencing actual depth in opposition to the likes of the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
“These previous few weeks I’ve discovered myself enhancing, taking part in beneath stress and at a better stage. It’s been a really helpful marketing campaign up to now, studying as a lot as doable.
“As a teen taking part in within the Carling Currie Cup, it’s robust and you will take a few knocks right here and there, but it surely’s all about studying from it and progressing.”
Photograph: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
