ABE MIDAS RUGBY LEAGUE PERSONALITY OF THE WEEK
Enslin Dlambulo
Enslin Dlambulo started his rugby career at Langa High School in Cape Town during the 1950s. Playing as a loose forward, he was up against formidable opposition but succeeded in making a name for himself. By 1958 he was selected to represent the Western Province Bantu Rugby Football Board in the Native Recruitment Cup Competition at the Caledonian Grounds in Mowbray, Cape Town. He also retained his position for the 1959 tournament in Queenstown.
Dlambulo made his national debut at Number Eight for the African Springboks of the South African Bantu Rugby Football Board (later the SA African Rugby Football Board / SA Rugby Association) on 5 October 1957 at the Port Elizabeth Showgrounds in Port Elizabeth against the Coloured Springboks of the SA Coloured Rugby Football Board (later the SA Rugby Union). They unfortunately lost the test, but Dlambulo did enough to maintain his place for two more tests.
During the 1959 test he caught the attention of a visiting rugby league scout which resulted in Dlambulo being offered a professional playing contract with Bradford Northern and Keighley rugby league clubs. He played professional rugby league for five years (1962-1967).
Goolam Abed had suggested to Northern that they sign Dlambulo. Dlambulo arrived in Britain in the middle of the dreadful winter of 1963, and made his debut in February at Whitehaven. Parts of the pitch were rock hard, and it is hard to imagine more alien conditions for a South African player. Trevor Delaney says that “the mobile, slightly-built South African showed impressive ball skills and defended better than most of the team. Northern lost 34–8. Dlambulo finished the season with 12 first team appearances, and made another 12 the following season before the club collapsed. He then joined Keighley, but only made nine first team appearances, including one off the bench, scoring one try, until the end of the 1966–67 season. At the time of writing he is believed to be living in Spain.
By Hendrik Snyders
Enslin Dlambulo
Enslin Dlambulo started his rugby career at Langa High School in Cape Town during the 1950s. Playing as a loose forward, he was up against formidable opposition but succeeded in making a name for himself. By 1958 he was selected to represent the Western Province Bantu Rugby Football Board in the Native Recruitment Cup Competition at the Caledonian Grounds in Mowbray, Cape Town. He also retained his position for the 1959 tournament in Queenstown.
Dlambulo made his national debut at Number Eight for the African Springboks of the South African Bantu Rugby Football Board (later the SA African Rugby Football Board / SA Rugby Association) on 5 October 1957 at the Port Elizabeth Showgrounds in Port Elizabeth against the Coloured Springboks of the SA Coloured Rugby Football Board (later the SA Rugby Union). They unfortunately lost the test, but Dlambulo did enough to maintain his place for two more tests.
During the 1959 test he caught the attention of a visiting rugby league scout which resulted in Dlambulo being offered a professional playing contract with Bradford Northern and Keighley rugby league clubs. He played professional rugby league for five years (1962-1967).
Goolam Abed had suggested to Northern that they sign Dlambulo. Dlambulo arrived in Britain in the middle of the dreadful winter of 1963, and made his debut in February at Whitehaven. Parts of the pitch were rock hard, and it is hard to imagine more alien conditions for a South African player. Trevor Delaney says that “the mobile, slightly-built South African showed impressive ball skills and defended better than most of the team. Northern lost 34–8. Dlambulo finished the season with 12 first team appearances, and made another 12 the following season before the club collapsed. He then joined Keighley, but only made nine first team appearances, including one off the bench, scoring one try, until the end of the 1966–67 season. At the time of writing he is believed to be living in Spain.
By Hendrik Snyders