Dirk Liebenberg on being a ‘lefty’

POLOKWANE – Liebenberg says at first thought, there are no challenges in being a left-handed person, but there are some.

“Take for instance sport equipment like golf clubs. I cannot just use any clubs, I need special left-handed clubs. Shooting is also problematic,” he says.

Liebenberg enjoys cooking and explains that cooking utensils are usually made for right-handed people. “I turn whatever I’m busy with so that my left hand does most of the work. I write left and eat right.”

He explains that when he was a child, he did not have left-handed scissors and his teacher always fought with him because he would turn his book. Whenever someone would tease him, saying he is writing with the wrong hand, he would laugh and tell them, “Left handed people are cute and clever.”

Advice to parents with children that are left-handed are that they should not force the children to write with their right hands, if they prefer to use their left hands.

Interesting facts:

• Just 10% of the world’s population is left-handed and this has remained for thousands of years.
• Men are also more likely to be left-handed.
• Tennis champion Rafael Nadal switched to being a left-handed player – and there’s a myth that his coach and mentor Toni Nadal noted it would give him a bigger advantage on court.
• In The Simpsons, character Ned Flanders set up a shop to recognise the plight of left-handed people. Named “The Leftorium”, it specialised in left-handed products

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maretha@nmgroup.co.za