Cheslin Kolbe wants his remarkable journey from Kraaifontein to the top of world rugby to serve as a reminder that where you come from does not have to determine where you end up.
The Springbok winger’s upcoming memoir, Cheslin Kolbe: Sidestepping the Odds, written in collaboration with award-winning journalist and broadcaster David O’Sullivan, will detail his rise from the Western Cape, where he grew up surrounded by crime, drugs and violence, to a career that has taken him from Western Province and the Stormers to Toulouse, Toulon, Japan and the Springboks.
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But for Kolbe, the book is about more than recounting his rugby journey.
He hopes his story will inspire young people and others who have been made to feel that their dreams are beyond their reach.
“I grew up in a world surrounded by crime, drugs and violence, and I was told that I was too small to play rugby,” Kolbe said.
“I refused to let those challenges get me down. I want this book to inspire young people, as well as others who have been told they are not good enough.
“I want them to know that they too can rise above all expectations, that they can start believing in their abilities, and also remember that their current circumstances do not determine their future.”
Kolbe’s career has seen him reach the summit of the sport, including success with the Springboks, while his story has also been shaped by his family, community and Christian faith.
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The memoir, which is due to be published in October, will chronicle the obstacles Kolbe faced and the determination that helped him overcome them.
Photo: @cheslinkolbe/Instagram
The post Cheslin wants his story to inspire a generation appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Cheslin Kolbe wants his remarkable journey from Kraaifontein to the top of world rugby to serve as a reminder that where you come from does not have to determine where you end up.
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