Ngidi keeps the faith, says mom

Speedster has a strong Christian background

BONGI Ngidi says her son, Proteas’ bowler Lungi Ngidi, has put his faith in a higher power as the team tackles Afghanistan at the Cricket World Cup today.

She said Ngidi, 23, pictured, was looking forward and excited to play at the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, but knew that even as the country had high hopes for him and the team, only God knew how they would fare.

She said: “Lungi is a believer. When there is something stopping him from playing (like his injury), he does not beat himself up about it.

“Lungi knows that, no matter how much he might want to play, if God says ‘not yet’ then all he can do is to accept. He does get disappointed, but he knows his life is beyond his control.”

Ngidi suffered an injury to his left hamstring in their match against Bangladesh last week. He limped from the field after bowling four overs as the team went on to lose the game.

The speedster was not in the line-up for the matches against India and the West Indies last week.

“It is hard to get hold of him while he is in England, and I do get worried about him. The country sees him only as a cricket player, but at the end of the day, he is my baby. I know he will do his best because that is how dedicated he is,” she said.

Ngidi was raised in a Christian home, and his mother said his beliefs were ingrained in his roots. “When he is home he would call me from his room, saying ‘Mom, please come so we can chat. I need a friend to chat with’. I get advice from him because he is my best friend,” she said.

“He also gets advice from me too, because I know him better than someone from outside,” she added.

South African team management were set to make a decision on Ngidi’s fitness this morning.

The Proteas need to win all their remaining five games to stand a chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.