Yaqeen Ahmed has been cooking up a rugby storm, and the young flyhalf now has the ingredients for his biggest opportunity yet.
Nicknamed “The Chef” during his schoolboy days at Wynberg Boys’ High School, Ahmed has spent a whirlwind few months adding increasingly prestigious ingredients to his rugby recipe: Junior Springbok world champion, SA A representative and, most recently, Stormers flyhalf.
At 20, he is now eyeing the main course.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu away on Springbok duty and Jurie Matthee working his way back from injury, Ahmed has the inside track at No 10 when the Stormers begin their Vodacom URC campaign against Connacht on 25 September.
Ahmed made his Stormers debut against New Zealand on 7 August at Cape Town Stadium, a moment that gave the Chef his first taste of senior professional rugby at his dream club.
“When I got my chance [against the All Blacks], the first thing was to take it,” Ahmed said on Tuesday while showing off the 2026-27 Stormers home jersey.
“Chances like this don’t come often, and if you miss this one, it might not come again.
“Being able to play against New Zealand wearing the No 10 jersey is really special.”
The recipe for success, Ahmed knows, requires more than raw talent. There is plenty of seasoning around him, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Matthee, Kyle Smith and Dominic Malgas providing valuable experience.
“Having guys like Sacha, Jurie, Kyle Smith and Dominic [Malgas] around, it’s nice to be able to learn from them. It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting or on the bench.
“My goal going forward is to keep learning from Sacha and Jurie, and whatever chance I get, I’m going to want to take it.”
His emotional connection to the Stormers gives the opportunity extra flavour.
“It’s taken hard work to get to where I am. Now, I think it’s about continuing to put in the work at training, and listening and learning.
“My dream club was always the Stormers … when I put this jersey on, it’s quite emotional. I feel like I belong here and I want to do the best I can while I’m here.”
Ahmed has also had a taste of the Springbok kitchen, learning from Rassie Erasmus, attack coach Tony Brown and senior players such as Siya Kolisi during his time in the national set-up.
“It definitely helped me, getting that experience and exposure to a pro environment.”
Brown added another ingredient: confidence.
“He was giving me a speech about being confident, [saying] ‘You’re there for a reason, they wouldn’t pick you if you weren’t good enough’.
“He said I must take in that moment, know what I need to do, and enjoy myself and play my game.”
The Chef’s rugby recipe was mixed long before the Stormers came calling.
Ahmed began playing club rugby for Hamediehs Rugby Club, the Vygieskraal institution founded in 1896 and celebrating its 130th anniversary this year. The club’s fearless, physical reputation provided plenty of early seasoning.
“Yes, my dad and my uncles all played for Hamediehs,” Ahmed quipped. “We were taught to be tough because they play the game hard and wild.”
Now the Chef has entered a bigger kitchen.
The Stormers No 10 jersey is simmering on the stove, the pressure is rising and Ahmed has his utensils sharpened.
The next course could be his biggest yet.
