It is almost impossible to put Hacjivah (pronounced achiever) Dayimani in a box. Given the dimensions of his character, talent, athleticism, hunger to learn and sheer range of influence you'd be sticking your neck out trying to be more descriptive than "Golden Lions rugby player".
Dayimani, who turns 20 on Saturday, plays in the back row but such is his speed, aerobic ability and skill that he can wear a range of higher numbers on the back of his jersey. It stands to reason.
Diversity is in his blood.
"Growing up was quite different. My mom is Xhosa, she's a sangoma from the Eastern Cape. My dad is Nigerian and Jewish. He was a rabbi," he said about his late father.
It partly explains his first name, a creation from both cultures.
Playing for the Golden Lions as a recent schoolboy seems a breeze when you consider his path. "I've been to lots of schools.
"I was actually born in Cape Town. I went to Ysterplaat Primary School, then to Cradock Laerskool, then moved to Joburg and attended Danie Theron in Kibler Park, then President High School and then Jeppe High scouted me."
Dayimani's mentor and Lions skills coach Joey Mongalo picked up the story: "We first saw him when he was 15 or 16 when he played in the Easter festival in Linden."At Craven Week against the Blue Bulls at Loftus and we got a red card about 30 minutes into the first half. At half time, he said to the guys, 'I've seen this movie many times. We are still going to win this game.'
"There is a confidence about him that sets him apart. Not arrogance. He is quite aware of what he can do. It is a quiet confidence, certainly not pompous.
"He knows what he is capable of and he brings it out in the most challenging moments. His character is quite a big thing."Equally, his physical dimensions count for a lot. When last measured, he stood a shade under 1.9m and was a Happy Meal away from tipping the scale at 100kg.Dayimani creates havoc as ball carrier and around whoever happens to be carrying it. More telling than his strapping, bulging body, is his drive to improve.
"I wasn't chosen for the SA Under-20s and there was one year I didn't make the SA Schools team. That taught me that I'm not complete as a rugby player. That showed I was lacking in certain aspects of the game and that's why coaches didn't choose me," he said. "Since then I've tried to be a sponge.
"Coaches teach you different things. When you read players' autobiographies you see how their coaches played a role...