RIP Mabuti Mandla
Mabuti Mandla of the Black Lions Rugby Football Club in Mdantsane represented Border in the inter-provincial Zonk and Partons Cup competition of the South African African Rugby Football Board during the 1960’s. Playing in the era of Fanie Headbush, Stampo Cushe, Enslin Dlambulo and Thompson Magxala, competition for representative honours was stiff with only a select few players being able to build a long provincial and national career.
Mandla, a centre/wing, made his debut for the African Springboks on 30 August 1969 at the Green Point Track in the annual inter-racial test against the national side of the SA Rugby Union. His inclusion came at the expense of the likes of Max Bukashe and Charles ‘Wonder Boy’ Ngxila and after the retirement of veteran centre George Mashiqana.
His debut proved to be very satisfying for Mandla despite his team’s comprehensive defeat by 40 points to 19, Mandla scored his first and only test try after Cassiem Jabaar knocked the ball on. Imvo in its post-match report recorded: As a result of this satisfactory individual performance Mandla kept his place in the national side for the second test (a ‘do or die test’ according to Imvo) at the Wolfson Stadium. This time round, the tables were turned by the African Springboks with Mandla playing a notable role. The Imvo Zabantsundu in its post-match report records:
“Thobile Davashe started a movement in his own 25 and had Mandla in support. Mandla kicked ahead, got the ball again to score an unconverted try”.
As a result of inconsistent selection the following season, Mandla lost his place together with Norman Mbiko and Benny Sontshi. He therefore played the rest of his career out in the club and inter-provincial leagues of the Border Rugby Union. Reclaiming his place was also further complicated by the emergence of a new generation of exciting talent amongst the African backs.
Courtesy of SARU
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