Bulls and Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka has opened up about his unorthodox and difficult path that includes working at a funeral parlour on his journey to become a professional rugby player when the odds were stacked against him.
Gqoboka, 32, is one of few rugby players who have managed to make it to the professional ranks despite coming from the most hopeless situations.
It’s no surprise Gqoboka describes his journey as only be achieved through “God, and not because of how smart you are or any other thing”.
To have a real chance to turn professional in rugby in SA, one needs to attend “rugby schools” where pupils are nurtured and receive required coaching in their formative years.
Gqoboka went to Ntabankulu High School in Ntabankulu where the sport didn’t exist, as in many other rural schools.
“I grew up in Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape and also in Ntabankulu where my mother is from, and I went to Ntabankulu High School. That’s where I worked for Nothemba Undertakers,” Gqoboka said.
The 32-year-old played rugby for the first time when he moved to Durban to further his studies at tertiary level.
“I played for Queensburgh club in Durban, a local club in Malvern after moving to the city to further my studies. That’s where I started playing rugby as an eighth man and I went to Durban Collegians where I met Marcell Coetzee, Cobus Reinach and a lot of other players contracted to the Sharks.
It’s still a dream, but I’m seriously honoured to be Bulls captain in one of the oldest domestic competitions. It's a big honour for me.
— Bulls and Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka
“They were playing club rugby because I think their competition, the U21 Currie Cup, was going to start later in the year,” Gqoboka said.
“Some of us, as the guys who were not contracted to the Sharks, had the privilege of playing with quality players such as Marcell.”
Gqoboka and Coetzee are teammates in the powerful Bulls side that is dominating the Currie Cup and finding its way in the United Rugby Championship (URC) against top European sides.
“[Coetzee] and I were competing for the No.8 jersey at Collegians and when I made my Springboks debut he was there. It’s quite amazing how life can turn out,” the prop said.
Gqoboka's big break came in 2011 when a player from the Eastern Province Kings organised a trial at the franchise. He was signed for their U21 side and ended up moving to the senior team before joining the Bulls five years later.
The prop has made great strides to become part of the Bulls’ leadership group, and has been their captain in the Currie Cup.
“It’s a massive honour. If you look at the history of the Bulls, we have had amazing captains and to be part of that history is quite special,” Gqoboka said.
“Coming from a guy who came from rural areas and couldn’t even speak English after matric, and by the age of 17 was working at a funeral parlour and only started playing rugby late in my career, to achieve that is quite special.
“I’m always grateful to God and also to the management at the Bulls, Jake (White) and Gert (Smal), for believing in my leadership abilities. It’s still a dream, but I’m seriously honoured to be Bulls captain in one of the oldest domestic competitions. It's a big honour for me.”
Gqoboka is eager to lead the Bulls to another Currie Cup title and hopes they can overcome the Sharks on Saturday to make the URC semi-finals.
“It’s great that in the URC we are playing a home quarterfinal and in the Currie Cup we are number one,” he said.
“That speaks to the strategy that Edgar and Jake have and the backing of the players in the union supporting the idea that we need squad depth and we need good competition within the team. It’s really special to play two competitions and be in the playoffs in both of them.”
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