Former head coach Yongama Mkaza will be making his return to the field of play when Swallows face Roodepoort in the Gold Cup tournament at the NU1 sportsfield in Mdantsane on Saturday.
After spending two seasons on the sidelines, Mkaza said he decided to strap on his boots and play for Swallows when they host the Gauteng-based side.
Mkaza said the reigning Border Super League champions were in a bid to be the first black-run team to reach the quarter finals of SA Rugby’s flagship national championship for non-university clubs.
Swallows have only lost one game in the competition and that was to Rustenburg heavyweights Impala, where they were beaten 38-36.
Mkaza said they went into that game as underdogs.
“Last week we played Impala, who are the two-time former champions of Gold Cup, and their squad comprises of provincial players.
“And they are one of the biggest clubs in Rustenburg and have the financial muscle, because all the mines up there invest in Impala.
“And being a black team, we were told by spectators we would be handed a 70-0 beating by Impala. No one had hope in us but that didn’t happen,” said Mkaza.
He said their current coach, Ntando “Tyson” Kebe, had a solid plan for Impala, and their players executed those plans with distinction, although they failed to get the desired results.
“We executed everything the way it was planned during training, and the opponent responded the way we anticipated them to.
“The 14 points they got in the first half, they didn’t deserve those points because they didn’t work for them, they just capitalised on our errors.
“It was from a kick-off and they managed to get the ball and went on to get a try, and the same happened for the second time and they got another try.
“They didn’t work hard like we did for those points because they couldn’t penetrate our strong defences.”
Mkaza said failing to close the many chances they got during the game cost them dearly.
“Not converting those chances to points killed us, because we had about five clearcut chances to score.
“But those small mistakes, like knocking the ball, cost us that game. And in the second half we didn’t attack as much as we did in the first half.
“And Impala gained momentum. Their number 16 killed us and he pushed them to win the game. In the last 15 minutes we defended on our five-metre scoring line, and they still couldn’t get tries against our 13 guys with their 15 men.
“So all in all I’m not happy with the way we lost to Impala, and this weekend we are going to come and get the desired results at home.”
The former Border Bulldogs scrumhalf said they’ve never played Roodepoort, but they’ve reflected on their performance last weekend and have rectifed everything that cost them a win.
“Roodepoort have a good squad, and I believe they are here to claim the victory, because they’ve got the same attitude as Impala.
“But I also believe as they won over the weekend they are confident, but it’s not going to be an easy game.
“We just need to be cool-headed and make sure that we play like we’re in a cup final and not put pressure on each other.”..