(Zimbali Coastal Resort, South Africa) – South Africa’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, has praised Gary Player as the country’s greatest sportsman and one of its finest ambassadors who “belongs in a league of his own”.
Mbalula was due to address the assembled golfers, sports stars, celebrities and business executives taking part in this week’s 12th annual Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola at the Zimbali Coastal Resort.
Mbalula was at the last minute unable to attend, but sent his message of praise, which was delivered by a member of his office at the official welcome function on Thursday evening.
“His message is that you are doing a wonderful job and have done this country proud. I know you feel you owe South Africa much, but the Minister feels South Africa owes you so much for putting us on a different pedestal,” said the representative.
“In Gary Player, the Minister says he has discovered a true friend, and somebody with whom he feels he can work together to show the rest of South Africa that we have talent and excellence and Africa is always alive with possibilities.”
Player was visibly moved by the Minister’s words. Standing on stage, he called up senior professional golfer Vincent Tshabalala as well as young black professional James Kamte.
“Here we have the old and the new,” Player said. “Vincent and I have been friends since we were children. He went on to win the French Open on the European Tour and has been such a fantastic ambassador for golf and our country.”
“And now look at James. This is the future. He just recently won a tournament on the Sunshine Tour. What this country desperately needs is a black golfer such as yourself, James, who will become the next great star.”
Player also thanked the Minister for the work he is doing to promote and transform sport in South Africa through the National Sport and Recreation Indaba.
According to the Minister, “The National Sport and Recreation Indaba is intended to pave the way forward for sport in South Africa, to provide a platform where sport and recreation issues can be discussed frankly and without prejudice and where policies can be translated into practice and a National Sports Plan for the country can be finalised.”
In his address, the Minister’s representative confirmed, “When Minister Mbalula was deployed to the Ministry of Sport, one of the first things he did was to say that we need to rectify how sport has been perceived and positioned in South Africa and the world.”
“He said we should rely on the concepts that have already been developed over the years, such as social cohesion and unity as well as nation building. He wants to maintain the favourable position of excellence and quality in our teams that have been performing well, but at the same time ensure a balance of quality and equity.
“Another key focus area for the Minister is that of taking young people off the streets and bringing them into institutions that encourage positive social behaviour. Here he wants to rely on the leadership that we have in sport, on the icons that we have, such as Gary Player, to enthuse and encourage our young people to participate in these activities.
“He is very aware of the challenges in terms of providing access to facilities and correct nutrition. He believes those things cannot happen without any revenue injection into the sporting codes. Hence the Minister has taken a keen interest in what the private sector has been doing to support sport. He knows that government cannot do it on its own.
“His message to you, Mr Player, is that the Minister was really looking forward to interacting with the luminaries gathered here because he is aware that there are people here who know how to win. He wants to continue to strengthen the partnerships between the private sector and public sector as well as community-based organisations.”
The Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola has for 12 years been making a significant contribution in South African communities, having raised over R250-million for disadvantaged children in this country.
“I was a very poor boy growing up, so I realised what it was like to struggle,” said Player. “I said, ‘When I do well I’m going to try and help a lot of people’. It’s a great feeling to have helped change the lives of some people in this great country, South Africa.”
Tickets are available at the venue or from Computicket at R75 per adult per day. Entry for children under 18 is free.
About the Gary Player Invitational Global Series
The Gary Player Invitational Series, with events in the United Kingdom, United States, China and South Africa, is aimed at raising money for non-profit charitable organisations, whose mission is to provide quality education for disadvantaged and underprivileged children and strengthen impoverished communities plagued by disease and crime.
For over a decade, top professionals, all-star sportsmen, celebrities, and businessmen have come together for the annual Gary Player Invitationals in support of underprivileged children. For more information about our charity series, please visit www.garyplayerinvitational.com .
About Black Knight International
Black Knight International, the global holding company for all divisions of The Player Group, maintains a strong presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Gary Player’s penchant for wearing black attire on the golf course, coupled with his competitive style of play and courteous demeanour, earned him the name, “The Black Knight.” The recognizable Black Knight logo identifies all the companies of The Player Group, including the Gary Player®, Player® and Black Knight® brands.
Contact:
Marc Tudhope, Managing Director, Black Knight International
E: marc@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
Debra Barnes, Client Service Director, Black Knight International
E: debbie@garyplayer.co.za or T: +27 21 671 5159
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Michael Vlismas
E: michaelv@iafrica.com or T: +27 72 242 8399
Lali Stander
E: media1@vlismasmedia.co.za or T: +27 82 990 7150
Splash PR
Kerry Seymour
E: kerry@splashpr.co.za or T: +27 21 2790 9911 / +27 82 926 47
