Simba SC defender and vice-captain Rushine De Reuck has opened up about the difficult environment in which he grew up in Cape Flats, Cape Town, South Africa, revealing that crime, drugs and gangs were among the major challenges faced by people living in the area.
De Reuck, who was born and raised in Kalksteenfontein, said some of the people he grew up with eventually became involved in criminal activities, with some ending up in prison while others lost their lives in incidents linked to crime.
“Some of my friends who grew up with me from a young age are now in prison, while others have died in criminal incidents,” De Reuck said.
Speaking about how he managed to avoid the same path, De Reuck explained that football played an important role in changing the direction of his life and giving him the opportunity to become a professional player. “I thank God for giving me the talent to play football. It took me out and placed me in a different world,” he added.
De Reuck, who previously played for Mamelodi Sundowns before joining Simba, has become an important part of the club’s squad since arriving in Tanzania.
