PROTEAS legend Herschelle Gibbs enjoyed not only a brilliant playing career, but also an extraordinary life.
Gibbs recently raised his bat for a half-century, having turned 50 last week, and we at Independent Media have done our best to salute one of the great characters of South African sport by choosing 50 things that made him special to us.
Herschelle Herman Gibbs
It’s all in the name and the genes. Herman is Herschelle’s father, who was a renowned track and field sprinter in his heyday. And that’s where Gibbs got his phenomenal speed from.
Potential Premier League star
Not many are aware that Gibbs’ first love was soccer. He was sensational at Rygersdal FC as a youngster, and even had the opportunity to trial at London club Arsenal.
‘Kirsy’ aka Peter Kirsten
Every sport-loving kid needs a hero. And for Gibbs it was Peter Kirsten. He idolised “Kirsy” growing up, and wanted to do everything he did, even field at backward point.
Bishops
Diocesan College has produced some phenomenal people over the past century, most notably Mark Shuttleworth, the first South African to enter space. But Gibbs had a cult following
