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Blitzboks draft 6'2, 100kg prospect with a sub 11-sec 100m
Hacjivah Dayimani plans well for most things in life, so it was not that unexpected when his phone rang and he received the message to join the Blitzboks squad for the HSBC Cape Town Sevens, but when it became reality, the Emirates Lions looseforward went blank.
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The 6’2, 100kg backrow – who has earned 24-caps for the Lions – is reported to have a sub 11-second 100 metre time, making him perfectly suited to the fast-paced, shorter form of the sport.
“I was so excited when I saw that, I actually became nervous and for a second did not know what to do. I said to myself, what now, where now,” a beaming Dayimani said after he joined the Blitzboks at their Cape Town hotel.
“I am so excited now and can’t wait to get to the training field.”
Hacjivah Dayimani scored 3 tries for the SA 7s Academy on their way to the International Invitational title @Dubai7s . Today he received the phone call to join the #Blitzboks for the @CapeTown7s .@CastleFreeSA @FNBSA @ASICS_ZA pic.twitter.com/Zff8061Vdq
— Springbok Sevens (@Blitzboks) December 9, 2019
Dayimani made his senior sevens debut in Dubai last weekend, where he helped the SA Rugby Sevens Academy to clinch the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens International Invitational tournament, scoring tries in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the event.
“Dubai was a great tester for me, it being my first tournament at this level,” said Dayimani.
“I had some great opportunities to learn as there were different scenarios in every game and that helped me a lot and will continue to help me with future tournaments coming up.”
He appreciated the game time: “I needed that. One needs to play sevens to understand the game better and I am definitely feeling better after last weekend.”
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South Africa, give everyone else a chance please! pic.twitter.com/1QSZqw4qjB
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 7, 2019
Blitzbok coach Neil Powell also appreciated the game time the flying forward got in Dubai.
“Hacjivah had to recover from an ankle injury when he joined us and that delayed his integration into playing time on the field,” said Powell.
“We are hoping to have him around for the Australasian leg of the World Series, but there are no guarantees with that, so we were keen to give him a chance. In Dubai, he was guaranteed lots of playing time with the Academy side, so we decided to name him in that squad.”
