ΤΙΜΕ ΤΟ MOVE ON

Clarrisa ManaÇas opens up to YOU about her split from ex-Bok Lionel Mapoe 

- JANICE BECKETT-MSIZA

SHE knew being the wife of a sports star would come with plenty of challenges, but that didn't stop her from falling for the tall, dark and handsome rugby player.

Clarrisa Manaças and former Springbok Lionel Mapoe fell head over heels in love and went on to have two children together.

There have indeed been plenty of ups and downs in their 12 years together.

Two years ago they got engaged but had to put their wedding on hold because he was on tour. Now it's all over.

They broke up last year - and Clarrisa is reliving the heartbreak in the new Showmax series Sports Wives.

She features on the show alongside Bom zi September, Christa Kgamphe-Jane, Dipuo Maloi, Tsholo Makgalemele-Mbane and Sisanda Cetyiwe, who are all wives and girlfriends of South African sportsmen.

"People think sports wives or partners and just think glitz and glamour. They don't see what we go through emotionally and the show brings that side to viewers. It's a show about real people," Clarrisa (37) tells YOU.

In the show she opens up about her relationship with the Vodacom Bulls player and two-time Currie Cup champion, saying she put her life on hold to support his career.

But after his "years of infidelity", she eventually decided to put herself first and they went their separate ways.

"It was just time to move on," she says.

"We walked away from a decade of love, memories and family but I think the sale of our house in Florida North just brought so much closure. It was the closure that we both needed."

Clarrisa now lives in an apartment in Fairlands, west of Johannesburg, with their children, Zarah (7) and GianLuc (6).

The show opened up old wounds for the former couple, but they've managed to put their differences aside and work for the good of the family.