Cheslin Kolbe says rugby gave him an escape from the gangsterism and drugs that surrounded his childhood in Kraaifontein.
The Springbok wing, who grew up in Scottsville, Kraaifontein, spoke candidly about his upbringing on the For the Love of Rugby South Africa podcast, hosted by former Stormers and Springbok teammate Steven Kitshoff.
Kolbe is proud of where he comes from, but knows what the area is associated with.
“If you ask anyone, the first thing that comes to mind is gangsterism, drugs, poverty,” Kolbe said.
“For me, it was the challenges, the things I’ve seen as a young kid that I had to overcome. You’d be playing touch or tag rugby in the street and the next minute you’ll just hear gunshots going off in broad daylight.
“The way I look back at it now, that was the norm for us growing up in that environment, because that’s all we knew, that’s all we saw and that’s what we got exposed to at quite a young age. But I wouldn’t change it for the world, to be honest. It’s made me mentally and personally much stronger as a human being.”
MORE: Kolbe ruled out of Bok tour
Rugby, he said, gave him a way out, and that is what drives his desire to give back.
“What inspires or challenges me more, for what the rugby has given me, that escape from falling into the easy route of being a gangster, selling drugs or whatever the case might be, is just wanting to go back into not just my community but across South Africa, because there are so many other communities faced with similar challenges,” he said.
“I want to go back there and be a mentor, or inspire the young kids, to show them it doesn’t matter your circumstances or the challenges you’re going through.”
FREE DIGI-MAG: Read Kolbe book extract
Photo: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
The post Cheslin: Rugby saved me appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Cheslin Kolbe says rugby gave him an escape from the gangsterism and drugs that surrounded his childhood in Kraaifontein.
The post Cheslin: Rugby saved me appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
