As he reflects on his extraordinary journey, 25-year-old pro athlete and Stormers back-row star Hacjivah Dayimani takes front row notice. His inspiring story begins where he grew up, in his mother's one-room shack in Joe Slovo, a small township in Cape Town. Due to financial hardship and bad influences in his area, his mother sent him to live with his grandmother. Hoping for a better life and future for Dayimani than she had as a cleaner, she enrolled him in a prestigious school and encouraged him to look for his biological father. Although his journey to Stomers success was fraught with obstacles, Dayimani's humility, work ethic, humble beginnings and inspirational outlook on life make him someone we can't help but admire.
GQ: How has your upbringing influenced who you are today?
Hacjivah Dayimani: It was a blessing in disguise. In my early years, I was raised by a single mom who lost her job when I was very young, which meant I had to help out where I could, working at a paving company at weekends and during the holidays and later selling oranges for my mom and siblings. When I went to live with my grandma, things went downhil, so I had to fi nd my dad in Joburg. Th ings didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to, but I had to grow up and push because I hadn’t gone that far only quit when I got to Joburg. As tough as my journey was, it brought something out of me that made me the young man I am today.
This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of GQ South Africa.
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This story is from the April - May 2023 edition of GQ South Africa.
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