Springbok Cheslin Kolbe has publicly thanked his wife, Layla Kolbe, for pausing her own profession to become a mother and support his career.
The couple have been married for eight years and shares three children together.
CHESLIN KOLBE PRAISES WIFE FOR SACRIFICES
In an Instagram post on Mother’s Day, Cheslin Kolbe praised the mother of his three children, wife Layla Kolbe.
The Springbok revealed that his wife – who lives in Cape Town with his kids – often held down the fort while he played for his club in Japan.
He shared: “To become a mother isn’t as easy as we all know, to raise 3 kids literally alone, the majority of the time takes courage, and I salute you for that. You are our superhero and rock to our family”.
Earlier this month, Layla hinted at her own sacrifices with a quote shared on her IG Stories.
It read: “‘People say: ‘She’s so lucky her partner works so hard so she can stay home with the kids’.
“No one says: ‘He’s so lucky she’s paused her entire identity, put her career on ice, let her ambition shrink, in the name of stability, sacrificed her salary and sanity so their kids could grow up held, heard and safe’. They see comfort, they don’t see the cost”.
‘REGRET’
Layla Kolbe has previously shared how she paused her career as a chartered accountant to support her Springbok spouse, Cheslin Kolbe.
In an Instagram Q&A, she recently shared: “At the time, I didnt regret not pursuing the CA route. But now I do.”
She also revealed she was “ready to find a job.”
Back in 2020, a year after the Springboks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Layla shared a heartfelt post about why she chose to be a mother and wife over a lucrative career.
She posted: “I left my career in the middle of my articles of fulfilling my own dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant. People laughed at me and still do.”
She continued: “Yes, I left for rugby. I left to back my husband. I witnessed all his crits, all the Springbok call-ups, camps, and long tours, but I never got selected. I witnessed all the great seasons, but still no Springbok debut. Because of size.
“I witnessed how this man [Cheslin Kolbe] still perseveres and still puts his all on that field every time despite it all. I can’t explain what a roller coaster these past few years has been like. To just see him be a part of such a phenomenal squad was one of the proudest moments for me.”
“No CA qualification could have ever replaced witnessing Cheslin make it”.
