Mdaka returns with real intent to tame Bulldogs
FORMER Bulldogs captain Siya Mdaka will face an interesting conundrum when he lines up against his former Border teammates in the colours of the Eastern Province Elephants in their SuperSport Rugby Challenge encounter tomorrow night.
It should be an emotional occasion for Mdaka, who led the Bulldogs throughout their first SuperSport rugby challenge campaign last year, before he was snapped up by the Southern Kings ahead of their inaugural Pro14 season.
“I am excited to come back to East London, I haven’t been back in a while so it will be good to be back in the city,” said Mdaka.
“I spent a long period of my career at Border, so it is going to be nice to be back and playing against my old teammates.”
Mdaka, 30, joined the Bulldogs in 2012, having had a short stint at the Leopards in 2011 and after the end of his three-year Varsity Cup career at NWU Pukke.
He subsequently played 75 games for the Bulldogs, leading them on a number of occasions including last year in what turned out to be his final season with the side.
“It is going to be interesting, I am going to have to handle my emotions and make sure that the team gets the job done on the day,” said Mdaka.
The Elephants will not be boosted by the arrival of any Pro14 players for tomorrow’s match, with the players reportedly receiving some well deserved time off after a gruelling first season in the European competition.
“I am the only player from the Pro14 squad that will be playing against Border,” said Mdaka.
“Most of the Pro14 guys have gone home for a break and we will be keeping the squad from the last few games together, so we will be playing a large number of club guys which is great for them to get this opportunity.
“Every game they are learning and getting more experience, so it is good to keep the current squad together.”
Mdaka is also relishing the chance of captaining again and is excited to see what his side can produce.
“It is an opportunity for me to share my knowledge of the game, while also continuing to learn,” said Mdaka.
“It is a wonderful experience, I am grateful that I have been given this opportunity and I will lead the team as best I can.”
The Elephants head into the Bulldogs match off a bye weekend after losing their opening two games of the competition against Western Province and the South Western District Eagles.
They will be very eager to pick up their first win of the competition and have a great opportunity against the only side in the South section pool to fare worse than them so far.
“I think that the break has done the guys a lot of good, we had a problem with a lack of conditioning coming into the tournament as the team had not trained much together and we had no warmup games, so the break came at the right time and we are fresh and ready now,” said Mdaka.
“I thought our performance against the Eagles was better than the Province game, so the message now is to win the small battles, do the basics right and we will continue to get better as the tournament goes on.
“I think on the day anything can happen, they have lost three, we have lost two, so it is going to be interesting to see how things pan out.
“I think it will be a good game, we all know it is a derby and I have won a few when representing Border so I know it is going to be a tough game. I just hope that my boys will be up for the challenge and can get us the win.”
The match kicks off at 7pm at the Buffalo City Stadium.