Sintu Manjezi remains fully focused on Glasgow Warriors but he’s already planning for the future and his mum wouldn’t allow anything different!
The versatile forward has experienced injury issues since joining Glasgow in May 2020 and he returned earlier this month against the Ospreys for his first appearance since last season’s 1872 Cup clash over Edinburgh at Murrayfield.
The 28-year-old has plenty of rugby left in him but he’s also undergoing an online course after previously studying at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth - with his mother a major influence.
“I was studying online in South Africa,” Manjezi admitted. “I am doing a course like a real estate degree but my main one is an economics degree. I have a year left on that. I have one or two modules left to do so it is not too bad. Hopefully, I can get that done.
“My mum has been on my case about my future and I do understand the importance of this as you can’t really do this forever so it has to be something for afterwards you have to prepare for.
Born in East London in South Africa, Manjezi was allowed to return to his homeland to spend time with family during his rehabilitation by Warriors coach Franco Smith.
The imposing lock admits it was a soul-searching time on the sidelines but he was grateful for Glasgow’s compassionate support.
“I was fortunate enough to go back home for a couple of weeks which was nice,” Manjezi admitted. “They are really understanding if you want an off weekend. Rehab is tough. You are away from the team and isolated but the environment we have here is one that really brings you in and really gets you involved.
"It was tough, I won’t lie but the environment here really does allow you to get over the injury and be involved with the team in certain ways.
“I had a bit of a long-term injury. I am glad to be back and able to contribute to the team. It was my knee, my miniscus that took a turn and I came here at the back end of the season so it was difficult to try to fit in a game with the boys doing so well during the season.
“It is difficult but I have to take it one week at a time and be grateful that i am getting through the games and contribute as best as I can. I am strapped up but no problem with the knee.”
There’s a good atmosphere around Scotstoun currently with Glasgow flying high at the top of the URC table after a superb comeback win over Ulster last weekend.
Glasgow trailed by 14 points after just twelve minutes but their resilience shone through as they secured a bonus point win to extend their record to five wins from six.
“We knew the threat Ulster would pose in terms of physicality and they’re a class side so we knew that we had to front up,” Manjezi added. “Going 14-0 down was not in the game plan but we needed one of these games where we needed to dig deeper than we are normally used to. They pounced on their mistakes and we did well to come back from that.
A daunting trip to reigning champions Munster awaits Glasgow tomorrow night but Manjezi insists the Warriors will focus on their own performance.
He added: “They are the defending champions and we know what they bring in terms of physicality and the quality they have in their side. It is a big one for us and the main focus is on what we can do.”
