Johannesburg – Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish, boxing legend Brian Mitchell, Springbok rugby star Victor Matfield, and footballers Mark Fish, Shaun Bartlett, and Jimmy Tau will join an array of other former sports stars, celebrities, business leaders, and Sunshine Tour professionals to show their support for the inaugural Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational on November 19 and 20 at the Lost City Golf Course at Sun City.
The most prominent figures in sport and business will participate in a charity tournament honoring the late Vivienne Player and the Gary and Vivienne Player Foundation’s efforts to generate money for the poor.
The beneficiary of the 2022 Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational is the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School, which was founded by Gary and Vivienne Player on what was once their family farm and is located adjacent to the Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate.
Rugby legends Butch James, Akona and Odwa Ndungane, Patrick Lambie, Stefan Terblanche and Owen Nkumane, Proteas cricketers Herschelle Gibbs and Vernon Philander, former Bafana Bafana footballers Matthew Booth, Aaron Mokoena and Mark Williams, and renowned South African women’s golfer Sally Little will also support this initiative.
“Vivienne had a deep affection for people and was also a sports enthusiast, having played golf at a high level. Gary Player stated, “I know it would have meant a great deal to Vivenne to see so many of South Africa’s top athletes supporting mine and her desire to help the poor, in this case the Blair Atholl Pre-Primary School and the children and staff there that Vivenne cared so much about.”
The field consists of the top 18 professionals from the Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge held at Selborne Park Golf Club in September, as well as the top five professionals outside the top 18 who are also members of the Tour’s Papwa Sewgolum Class for historically disadvantaged golfers.
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