Bulldogs’ rugby poles stolen for scrap metal

Thieves who stole the metal rugby poles from Buffalo City Metro stadium forced management to “borrow” uprights for games.

Details emerged this week of how the Border Bulldogs had to play two games using poles from Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe stadium.

The Bulldogs are currently playing in the Currie Cup first division. Club games are also played at the stadium on weekends.

The poles were stolen on August 15, a day after the Bulldogs played the Blue Bulls. They were taken down after the match, but disappeared from their storage facility.

“Because the stadium was booked for a social event, we took down the posts and they were stolen that weekend,” said stadium facilities manager Akhona Mgijima.

Mgijima said when it was noticed that the poles were missing a case was opened with East London police.

Swallows head coach Sindile Mayende yesterday confirmed the club had lent goalposts to the stadium.

Swallow’s plays some of it’s home matches at Sisa Dukashe.

East London police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mtati Tana was not able to confirm the case.

“No case of this nature shows in our records from the dates you’ve mentioned,” Tana said.

But Mgijima said the uprights were recovered following swift police action the following Monday at an East London scrap metal company.

“When we got there the poles were already dismantled. We confronted the owner for buying stolen metal because he should ask for his customer’s identity document when they sell to him,” he said.

The matter was sorted out in time for the Border women’s rugby match against the Blue Bulls women’s team last weekend.

Border claimed its third Saru Women’s Interprovincial A championship courtesy of a 20-12 victory. — siphem@dispatch.co.za