Why Vincent Tshituka and his family fled Congo
The Sharks player and his brother Emmanuel recently received their official identity documents as naturalised citizens.
The Tshitua family arrived in SA in 2002, where they have now laid down their roots.
Vincent Tshituka, his parents, and his three siblings fled Congo in 2002 amid political unrest in the country.
The family arrived in Johannesburg as refugees struggled to survive. Patriarch Simon Tshituka accepted 'degrading jobs', like combing through trash to sell items.
However, their struggles was not something brothers experienced first-hand.
Vincent told Rugby Pass: 'My parents protected us so well from the pain they went through. My mum could be crying in the bedroom, but she'd never let us see it. There was no money, but we still had each other and loved each other. The adults took all the bullets and protected us from everything'.
Of his ability to 'pay back' his parents, Vincent added: 'I'm actually grateful for it and I always say, there's something beautiful about being the underdog that only the underdog will ever really understand.'
Vincent Tshituka and his siblings did not attend rugby-oriented schools in South Africa. However, his raw talent earned him a scholarship to attend the University of Johannesburg, where he was later selected to play for the Lions.
After being signed by the Sharks, Vincent revealed his ultimate goal was to become a Springbok.
He said last year, 'To pull on the green and gold [jersey] will remain a dream until the day I hang up my boots.
'Considering my background as a foreigner and the fact that I did not go to a traditional rugby school, it's overwhelming.
'Playing for South Africa would be the highest honour.' View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Sharks (@sharksrugby)
Vincent Tshituka's dream to become a Springbok became a reality last week when he made his debut test match appearance against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
The Bok newbie scored an impressive two tries.
The proud moment came after many delays. Even though both Vincent and his brother Emmanuel had their citizenship and passports, they required an identity document to represent South Africa.
After much back-and-forth, the siblings finally received their documentation, which enabled their integration into the national team.
In May, the Department of Home Affairs announced that naturalised citizens would now be eligible to receive smart cards.
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