Oupa Mohoje firmly believes that if it wasn’t for opportunities at the University of the Free State (UFS), he probably would not have been a professional rugby player.
The former Shimla captain says he was given a platform to take his career to the next level and to eventually become a Springbok.
He is grateful for the stepping-stone and how he was embraced as a Shimla, and now wants to inspire the younger generation who also want to become Kovsies.
The Toyota Cheetah, who played 19 tests for South Africa, is an ambassador for the UFS Sporting Legends project, which celebrates current and former Kovsie sports stars by featuring their stories in a video and story series.
The series looks at the impact the UFS has had on their careers, how it has uniquely shaped them, and helped them to excel – whether in sport or the world of work.
Varsity Cup Player of Tournament
Mohoje was born in Qwaqwa, attended HTS Louis Botha in Bloemfontein, and played Craven Week and later junior rugby for the Free State.
The loose forward made his Springbok debut against Scotland in Gqeberha in 2014.
After playing Free State junior rugby, he joined the Shimlas and immediately felt welcome. He remembers how seniors such as Joubert Horn and Willie Britz treated him.
“The way they embraced me as a newcomer was amazing. There were no egos.”
He says it was easy to fit in. “I always get emotional because I think if it wasn’t for that, I don’t think I would have been a rugby player today.”
The Springbok, however, believes it was only in 2013 when he was named Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament that he thought bigger things might be possible, as not many former junior provincial players get senior contracts.
He says the tournament was a springboard for his career: “The Varsity Cup is a great platform, and I would be an ambassador for it any day.”
Mohoje says he was surprised when he was named Shimlas captain, as he knew nothing about being a leader.
But he has since held many leadership roles. He has been the Cheetahs captain and serves the game off the field.
He is the vice-president of the South African Rugby Players’ Association (SARPA) and Player Representative: International Rugby Players.
In his SARPA capacity, he serves as a non-executive director on the board of MyPlayers, the players’ organisation for all professional rugby players in South Africa.
The 32-year-old says it is great being part of the ‘bigger picture’, and MyPlayers makes the lives of players much easier.
“A lot of players would have been in so much trouble without MyPlayers when it comes to things like a pension fund and injury benefits.”
Mohoje became a father more than a year ago and he says his son, Hloni, changed his life.
“I don’t even want to be at practice. I just want to be with my son, which is strange, because I was never that guy.”
“I want to see my son crawl, see him walk, and see all those small milestones.”
On the field, his future goals are to be consistent in performances and to stay injury free.
“And I hope I can play long enough for my son to perhaps see me play.”
Watch the video feature to get a glimpse of Oupa Mohoje’s journey and life.