Hacjivah Dayimani opens up about his rugby journey, growing up, his role models and winning the first edition of the Vodacom URC in a raw interview.
Dayimani added an incredible chapter to his story by helping the DHL Stormers upset the odds and win the Vodacom URC title in the 2021-22 season.
In an interview with the Vodacom URC’s YouTube channel, Dayimani looked back on the evening in Cape Town, where the Stormers players were handed their winner’s medals by a line of exited youngsters.
“It was very special,” Dayimani said. “Usually we have a medal ceremony where we are shaking the hand of the president or vice president of whatever board. You can’t relate to those people.
“I felt that using kids, it just took me back. How excited they were to see us and us seeing how excited they are, made me realise that we were once those kids. We had the dream of shaking the hand of someone famous. Especially when I went to the kid, he couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t wait.
“This made me realise, we take so many things for granted. We are in a certain situation, but when you look back, that was you once upon a time. I realised that it’s actually good to dream. You just never know where you might end up.”
Dayimani also opened up on his childhood and growing up in impoverished circumstances in Joe Slovo, before his talents as a sportsman earned him a scholarship at Jeppe High.
“Not everyone is as lucky as me. Especially in South Africa, we have social backgrounds that are totally different to each other,” Dayimani explained.
“A kid from Joe Slovo doesn’t need food parcels. They need a way out. I remember when I was young, the soup kitchen would feed us for a day, but then the whole weekend, it’s back to square one.
“It’s temporary. Giving me school shoes is not going to take me out of the situation that I’m in. Giving me clothes is not going to take me out of the situation. If you give me new jeans, I am still going to be in the same situation. That’s what people don’t understand.
“People think, ‘let’s get as many food parcels and feed these people for a week’. After feeding us for a week, you disappear, live your life and come back after a year. It’s not going to do anything for us.
“I respect people who try to go back to the community and do stuff. The main thing is changing the way people see things, changing people’s mentality. That’s most important.”
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
