Home » Gift Ngoepe Makes Major League History for Himself, South Africa and Africa

Gift Ngoepe Makes Major League History for Himself, South Africa and Africa

South Africa’s Gift Ngoepe made a dashing debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday evening… with all eyes on him as he made history, becoming the first athlete born in Africa to record a hit in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game. And for the 27-year-old from Randburg, it was about more than just his own incredible personal […]

By SAPeople
27-04-17 21:40
in Fab South African Stuff

South Africa’s Gift Ngoepe made a dashing debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday evening… with all eyes on him as he made history, becoming the first athlete born in Africa to record a hit in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game.

And for the 27-year-old from Randburg, it was about more than just his own incredible personal achievement… a dream he’s had since he was 10-years-old. It was doing it for the people back home in South Africa.

Before the game, Gift told US reporters: “It means a lot to people back home. I’ve been getting messages all day from my friends and family, people that always supported me back home… It means that it doesn’t matter where you come from – no matter where you are or who you are…”

And Gift didn’t just represent his home country, South Africa… he represented the whole continent of Africa… as team mate Jordy Mercer reminded the team a few times last night, saying that Gift “represented 1.62 billion people”. According to Gift, they all screamed: “For the motherland!”

Source: MLB.com

Gift told the New York Times that his playing in the MLB “means so much to the people of South Africa and baseball in Africa”.

Gift – and his younger brother Victor (who is also poised for baseball stardom) – grew up with the Randburg Club’s baseball field as their backyard. They lived at the club as their late mom worked as a cleaner there, his former neighbour Lee-Ann Meyer told SAPeople.

Last night he had all of Africa – and many in America – behind him as his new team beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5. His coach, team mates… and even Cub players… embraced him afterwards.

It’s been a long journey. As SAPeople reported early yesterday, Gift was called up by the Pirates on Wednesday. It’s been nine years since he first signed a professional baseball contract back in October 2008… and as he made his way to the big game, his flights were delayed further.

But he made it… and when his moment came, he shone… even though he admitted afterwards he was fighting back the tears.

“I was holding it back. I was like, ‘You know what, you’re in the big leagues. You’ve got to be a big guy.'” he told MLB.com.

And that he is… about to become a household name as Americans today were asking how to pronounce his surname! (See below.)

#GoGiftNgoepe!

Gift Ngoepe talks about his fans back home in South Africa

https://youtu.be/XQb_mGRwqGA

MORE

How baseball is making a difference in South Africa.

Read some of Gift Ngoepe’s friends’ comments on his awesome MLB achievement.