From the Mets: Gift comments
RANDBURG – Those who know Gift Ngoepe from his years at the Randburg Mets Baseball Club can testify to the type of person he is.
Paul Kindt, who was Ngoepe’s coach for three years before he signed his first international contract, describes the player as a ‘well-mannered, down to earth and a keen sportsman’.
“He never got into trouble and had a lot of natural ability,” Kindt said. “Gift always played against older boys, which I think helped a lot. When he was 10, he played against 15 years olds. When he was 15, he played against 20 year olds and held his own.”
Photos: Nicholas Zaal
Kindt and Ngoepe still stay in touch and meet up whenever the star visits during the off season.
“[Ngoepe] takes care of other South African sportsmen when they play overseas. I heard that for a US child growing up and playing baseball, there is 1.8 million to one chance of playing [in the Major League]. I don’t know what Gift’s chances were, but his own odds were stacked against him.”
Kindt said it was Ngoepe’s skill and determination alone that opened doors for him and got him invited to training camps for prestigious teams.
Glen Gillman, a former chairperson of Randburg Mets, has also known Ngoepe for years.
“Whenever he visits, he stays at the club [with family at the back of the clubhouse]. When he sees children training, he comes out and helps with training,” Gillman said.
“The children all treat him like a celebrity and we also treat him as such. He is a very generous person and not too big for us. He is always willing to help without anything to gain.”
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