Migrant Dweba considers next stop
● Fiery Cheetahs hooker Joseph Dweba isn’t against leaving to improve his rugby. Being a migrant has been part of his life.
The 25-year-old father of one, who’ll be taking up a contract with French club Bordeaux Begles when the coronavirus lockdown lets him, went to three high schools.
Dweba, who was born in Carletonville but grew up in Westonaria, went to Westonaria High, Jan Viljoen in Randfontein and Florida High in Roodepoort. He’s over the moon that he’s made his mineworker dad and former domestic worker mom proud. Black players hardly get overseas deals at Dweba’s age, which makes it all the more special for him.
“Moving around has helped me significantly. With everything I do, I put my parents first along with my kid. They told me it was a great opportunity,” Dweba said.
“My parents are very proud of me. They never thought I’d play rugby. I just stuffed around with the game to get away from the social ills and the game has given me an opportunity to move away and grow.”
Moving to Bloemfontein after matric was forced by the emergence of Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx. Dweba, who represented the South African under-20 team at the 2014 Junior World Championship alongside Springboks Handre Pollard, Jesse Kriel, Warrick Gelant, Jean-Luc du Preez, Wilco Louw, Marx and Thomas du Toit, has a different understanding of patience.
“There’s a saying here in Bloem that the grass is harder than the players and from a rugby perspective, this is a hard place to be. It’s taught me a lot though. It’s taught me to be patient, to be hard and for anything that you want, you have to work hard for it. It won’t come easy,” Dweba said.
“I was going to be 19 in matric and I got an offer from the Cheetahs. Malcolm Marx was going to be the next big thing at the Lions, so it was an easy option for me. Adriaan Strauss leaving for the Bulls helped.”
Dweba has been a standout for the Cheetahs in the Pro14 tournament. Covid-19, he feels, may have scuppered his chances of being Marx’s deputy while Bongi Mbonambi recovers from an injury.
“If this whole coronavirus thing hadn’t happened, I think I’d be close or knocking on the door. I’ve been knocking on the door for quite some time now, but that’s moved back a bit because of the coronavirus,” Dweba said.
“I’m honest with myself and I know there are plenty of good hookers. Malcolm is still there and Bongi is still the No 1. There are also guys who play overseas who can still stake a claim.”