Defeat can be a powerful motivator and for Akona Npeta, the captain of Cradock High School, he will be doing his utmost to lead his team to victory over Gill College in their FNB Classic Clashes match this Saturday.

Already a veteran of two clashes against Gill, the 19-year-old tighthead prop wants to make sure that he ends his last derby game with a victory after being part of the side that lost 17-8 in the 2010 fixture.

"We've been practising fairly hard this week, but we are ready for the game. We are keen to make up for last year's defeat," the matric student told classicclashes.co.za.

"It's a crucial game for us as we (the matric students) will be playing our last game for the school and we want to do well," Npeta said.

The prop attributes his love for the game to his late father, who instilled the love for the game in him even though he only played rugby socially.

Npeta though also regards two-time World Cup winner Os du Randt as his role model, as he is "someone to look up to".

The Cradock captain - who tips the scales at 92 kilograms - wasn't always keen to be a tighthead prop.

He wanted to be a loosehead prop, but as there wasn't a tighthead in the side, he was persuaded to make the switch and has been happy to play there ever since.