Earlier this week, Team Manitoba’s U18 coaching staff selected their captains for the upcoming Canada Cup, which begins tomorrow at Foote Field in Alberta. Among the six honourees was grade 11 defensive back David Sindikubwabo out of Dakota Collegiate.
The 5’10”, 170-pound playmaker was one of the standouts all throughout the selection process, so his appointment comes as no surprise. He’s got a swagger that you can’t teach, and athleticism that jumps off the page. It’s what makes him one of a kind, and he has the evidence to back it up.
Take his sophomore season, where he hurdled over a defender on a kick return in the JV championship against Oak Park. It was a gutsy decision, but one that paid off, as he executed the move perfectly.
The photo will be re-played for years, and is the first thing many think about when discussing a play that represents who Sindikubwabo is: a confident athlete who isn’t afraid to put his body on the line to make a difference.
“I was supposed to pitch it off to Amid Kanu, my running back, but then the ball came out wobbly on my hand when I picked it up, and I thought a pitch would’ve been way too late, so I just started running up the middle,” he says with a smile as he reflects on the move.
“I saw a guy coming right in from of me. I didn’t think I would be able to make a move to get around him, so I thought why not? Let me hurdle him.”
Plays like this, and a vocal leadership style are what earned Sindikubwabo the nickname Mr. Seatbelt.
“I got it given to me in the locker room. You know me, I have a loud mouth and I like chirping at my other teammates. They’re like ‘David you’re always strapping up,’ and we all collectively thought of a seat belt. I’m like I don’t want to be called seatbelt. Mr. Seatbelt sounds cool. They just started calling me that,” he noted.
“I just always want to be strapped up. I strive to have zero balls caught on me every game. Last season I only had one ball caught on me in a zone coverage. It was still kind of my responsibility, but I still stay I had zero balls caught on me in man to man. I always try to keep thinking to myself Mr. Seatbelt. I have to keep that reputation up, and keep myself strapped up and focused.”
As you can tell, Mr. Seatbelt takes pride in his play. He’s one of the top prospects in his class, capable of playing anywhere in the secondary.
Whether it’s using his speed and range to knock down a deep ball, lining up in press coverage at the line, or jumping a ball and taking it to the house (see the first clip of his sophomore hudle film for reference), he was meant to play the sport of football.
One percent better
But it hasn’t always been this easy. Earlier in his career, Sindikubwabo doubted if he could make the transition from offence to defence. He had previously been a receiver and returner, but made the shift defensive back after his time with Manitoba’s U16 team last summer.
When he needed advice, he went to his big bro Hubert.
The Dakota alum – a former running back who moved onto the Okanagan Sun’s junior football program after high school – offered up a quote that continues to resonate with his younger sibling.
“He said ‘just make sure you’re one percent better every day.’ I took that to heart. I don’t have to be on the field every day, I just have to make sure that my IQ is one percent better, my diet is one percent better, my skills are one percent better.”
It’s safe to say he’s embodied is approach in full. Through the tutelage of respected defensive backs coach Sean Oleksewycz, along with the veteran staff at Dakota, Sindikubwabo has become a machine, and he’s just getting started.
“Sometimes I overthink and that’s when I make mistakes. [‘Toba defensive backs coach Oleksewycz] reminds me to believe in my talent and play how I can play. Once I follow those words, I start doing well. He also taught me some technical skills, obviously some nice DB work, how to get out of my breaks, how to get faster and to not look at the quarterback on my breaks and just stay with my receiver.”
Manitoba takes on Quebec in the opening round tomorrow. The team’s secondary will be one of their biggest strengths, taking a team-first approach throughout.
Sindikubwabo, who can also kick, hold and obviously return punts and kicks, will be a name to remember during play. He’ll then take the skills he’s learned back to Dak for his junior season this fall, where the Lancers are a favourite to make it to the ANAVETS Bowl in the new 4A and 3A varsity format.
“I just want to make sure my leadership contributes to the whole team, so we can be better and have fun while we’re doing it, because football is a team sport.”