‘Malik’ hoping to repay the faith

MEET ‘Malik’, your friendly try-scoring wing. No, it’s not some new sensation on the South African rugby scene, but rather Madosh Tambwe.

The 25-year-old has scored eight tries in the URC this season, and will be one of the main threats for the Pretoria-based team in Saturday’s final against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.

In fact, it should’ve been so many more, considering the impact Tambwe has made with ballin-hand for Jake White’s team. Often a last pass has been forward or not gone to hand, or the TMO has ruled it out for some or other reason.

“If all the six or eight tries were awarded, I would’ve probably sat on 14 or 15! But I will take the eight,” the former Lions and Sharks speedster said.

“For me, a move from the Sharks to the Bulls, coming here, coach Jake already had guys like Stravino (Jacobs) and Kurt-Lee (Arendse) as his starting wings, so I needed to work on something that would give me a point of difference.

“I took my time to put effort into my craft in terms of that part of my position qualities – to have a point of difference when the team gets selected.

“Working with coach Jake has been tremendous. He has honestly brought out the best of me.”

Bu that is ending because Tambwe confirmed that he will join French Top 14 side Bordeaux next season.

“I’ve got a great relationship with coach Jake, and when I spoke to him with regards to my move to the Top 14, he understood. As much as he has been adamant of me (not) leaving, I think he’s understood where I come from,” Tambwe said.

“Just like every good thing comes to an end, unfortunately … But I want to give back to him because he has been a tremendous guy. He uplifted my career from when I got here, and the one thing I can do in terms of repaying him is playing my socks off.”

And what is this ‘Malik’ nickname?

“The boys call me Doshies, some call me Dosha, some call me Malik,” Tambwe said.

“There’s a story behind Malik: Every Ramadaan, I fast. I’m not Muslim, but I just fast as part of solidarity with family and friends that are Muslim.”