Manchester Football Legends to play Orlando Pirates Legends in Johannesburg

A dream team of Manchester’s football legends are travelling to Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium to play an exhibition match against the Orlando Pirates Legends on Saturday 15 November at 18H00.

Former England and Liverpool Captain, Mark Wright (Director of FC Tours, who provide Legends Tours), has secured the following players for the tribute match:

Paul Scholes, Lee Sharpe, Louis Saha, Viv Anderson (MBE), Jesper Blomqvist, Ronnie Jonson, Raimond van der Gouw, David May, Quinton Fortune, Lee Martin, Clayton Blackmore, Keith Gillespie, Russell Beardmore and Ben Thornley.

Fans will be travelling from all corners of the globe to see legends like Paul Scholes, Lee Sharpe and Louis Saha (formerly with Manchester United) getting back on the pitch to make football history.

Viv Anderson (MBE) said: “I’m excited to be joining some legendary players to take on one of South Africa’s oldest and best established football clubs, Orlando Pirates. Ellis Park Stadium will provide a fantastic setting for this one-off match bringing together a truly memorable mix of players for one time only. It’ll be a treat for the players and the supporters alike – a truly special game played in a spectacular setting.”

Paul Scholes commented: “For the supporters and the players alike, this will be a really exciting match, giving fans the opportunity to see Manchester’s legends return to the pitch to take on the Orlando Pirates Legends. We’ll all be honouring the memory of Senzo Meyiwa and are proud to have the chance to help to raise funds to support his family.”

The Legends will also be going head-to-head on the golf course at Sun City for a Corporate Golf Day on Thursday 13 November, followed by a series of gala dinners at both Sun City and The Maslow Hotel. In light of the events leading to the passing ofSenzo Meyiwa, the organisers have agreed to donate some proceeds of the gala dinners & match tickets to Meyiwa’s family.

Floyd Mbele, Orlando Pirates Football Club, Administrative Officer said: “We’re looking forward to taking on the Legends. It’ll make for great football and will offer our fans the chance to see some of the game’s most legendary names in action.  We are overwhelmed at the support for Senzo Meyiwa, through the Manchester Legends and FC Tours kindly offering a percentage of the proceeds to Senzo’s family. The game at Ellis Park will be special for many reasons.”

Tickets for the Manchester Football Legends vs Orlando Pirates Legends match taking place on Saturday, 15 November 2014 are available and on sale at all Computicket and Shoprite outlets for R40, R60 and R100.

European Ryder Cup stars confirmed for 2014 Nedbank Golf Challenge

Half of the victorious European Ryder Cup team as well as two Major winners and three former world number ones are amongst the first group of players to confirm their place in this December’s Nedbank Golf Challenge.

Tournament Director Alastair Roper, in announcing the first 12 players that will tee it up in the 4-7 December tournament co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Sunshine Tour and played at one of Sun International’s flagship golf courses in the Gary Player Country Club, said he was delighted with the response of Europe’s Ryder Cup stars.

“To secure half of the European Ryder Cup team, which is by far the biggest representation of that team to be playing in a single tournament anywhere in the world at this same time, is a major coup for us in a year when European golfers are in such demand following their Ryder Cup victory,” Roper said.

The European Ryder Cup stars in the Nedbank Golf Challenge field include Thomas Bjørn, Martin Kaymer, Victor Dubuisson, Jamie Donaldson, Stephen Gallacher and Lee Westwood. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jiminez, who was a vice-captain on the team, is also in the field.

Bjørn is back to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion last year, claiming a two-stroke victory at the age of 42.

Westwood is making his 10^th appearance in the Nedbank Golf Challenge and returns as a back-to-back winner of “Africa’s Major” in 2010 and 2011.

Kaymer is back hoping to add to his 2012 triumph in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and the 2014 US Open champion and former world number one is joined by other former world number ones in Westwood and Luke Donald.

Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters champion, leads the South Africans in the group, which includes 2013 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner Dawie van der Walt.

Thai golf legend Thongchai Jaidee will be joined in the field by his younger counterpart Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who qualified by virtue of his first-place finish on the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit.

NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE CONFIRMED PLAYERS:

Thomas Bjørn (Denmark)

Martin Kaymer (Germany)

Lee Westwood (England)

Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)

Victor Dubuisson (France)

Jamie Donaldson (Wales)

Stephen Gallacher (Scotland)

Dawie van der Walt (South Africa)

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand)

Luke Donald (England)

Miguel Angel Jiminez (Spain)

Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand)

BY THE NUMBERS:

Past Champions (3):

Thomas Bjørn – 2013

Martin Kaymer – 2012

Lee Westwood – 2010, 2011

Major Champions (2):

Martin Kaymer – 2010 PGA Championship, 2014 US Open

Charl Schwartzel – 2011 Masters

2014 European Ryder Cup players (6):

Thomas Bjørn

Martin Kaymer

Lee Westwood

Victor Dubuisson

Jamie Donaldson

Stephen Gallacher

Former World Number Ones (3):

Martin Kaymer

Luke Donald

Lee Westwood

Countries Represented (9):

Denmark, Germany, England, South Africa, France, Wales, Scotland, Thailand, Spain

VOLVO OCEAN RACE IS SAILING INTO THE V & A WATERFRONT

The 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race finishes its first leg in the Mother City between 2 and 6 November. The race, which started in Alicante, Spain with an in-port race on 4 October, departed for Cape Town on 11 October and will see seven syndicates take on the grueling journey, which could take anything between 23 and 27 days to complete.

Known as the Everest of sailing and one of the toughest races in the world, the Volvo Ocean Race is the biggest event on the yachting calendar. It attracts the strongest and most experienced sailors, who will no doubt experience massive sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion and of course the wrath of Mother Nature.

Luckily for us landlubbers, there’s some fun and entertainment to be had from these athletic exploits during the stopover period from 1 to 19 November. While the sailors tackle a nine month stint with which to cover 39 000 nautical miles of the most treacherous sea, the V & A Waterfront becomes a hive of activity.

The lead boat is expected to arrive in Cape Town at the beginning of November. You can welcome the sailors as they arrive from 1 to 6 November at Quay 6, and join in the fun at the official Race Village opening at 5pm on the 1^st of November.

Be part of the Open Ocean Festival action in the Race Village during the stopover period, featuring activities such as stand up paddling, fly boarding and dragon boat racing. You can also catch the IRC National regatta, the Ocean Film Festival, the Ocean Long Table Fish Braai and other Volvo Ocean Race Experiences.

The race restarts on 19 November with the ceremony starting at 3pm and competitors leaving at 6pm. Catch the pro-am races on 14 and 16 November, or the in-port race on 15 November. The Volvo Ocean Race Academy will also offer activities from 16 to 18 November. There will be an on-site classroom and playground for aspiring sailors as well as sailing officials to better hone their skills.

The Volvo Ocean Race offers something for everyone as well as every budget with many free and paid for options. The Volvo Ocean Race, the Everest of sailing, on at the V & A Waterfront from 1 to 19 November.

Visit http://www.volvooceanrace.com for more info on the race en first leg results.

Tsogo Sun backs the Boks

I've been lucky enough to stay in a Tsogo Sun hotel in Cape Town while I was there for last year's Cape Town Cycle Tour.

I loved every minute as they went out of their way to help the sports folks there.

I also bumped into the Austrailan cricket team as well as the Hurricanes who were playing a SUper Rugby match.
Here is how they support the Springboks...

A long-time accommodation sponsor of the majority of South Africa’s national sporting teams, Tsogo Sun has expanded its sponsorship agreement with the Springboks in a partnership that dates back to 1995 and has evolved into one in which Tsogo Sun is now the team’s official accommodation and experience partner.

“Tsogo Sun has a long history of supporting the men and women who carry the flag for South Africa on the international sporting stage, and we have been the home of the Springboks since the Rugby World Cup in 1995. We take great pride in our association with the Springboks, which we believe is the coming together of two great leaders. This formidable partnership epitomises our brand values of leadership, charisma, passion and energy,” says Neil Fraser, Group Director of Sales for Tsogo Sun. Tsogo Sun’s sponsorship of sport dates back to its inception over 40 years ago and has seen the group partnering with national sporting bodies to become the official accommodation provider to, amongst others, the South African national rugby, soccer, cricket and netball teams, along with many provincial sporting teams including the Lions, Sharks, Bulls, Western Province, Eastern Province, Griquas and Cheetahs.

No stranger to providing customised treatment and experiences to cater for the specific needs of teams in training to represent the nation, Tsogo Sun ensures not only that the Springboks are accommodated around the country, but also that their specific meal requirements are handled in close collaboration with the team’s dieticians and that their dedicated team rooms are on offer. Private, cordoned off areas are provided for team strategy meetings, sports massage and private meals, and the hotels’ personalised service even extends to screening of calls to ensure an added sense of privacy and reduced distractions.

“We are passionately committed to creating a secure haven where the Springboks can recharge and prepare for their matches, both mentally and physically,” concludes Fraser

TOP SA HORSE FARMS RECOMMEND THE PROBIO EQUINE RANGE TO BOOST AND MAINTAIN HORSE AND STABLE HEALTH NATURALLY

The Probio Equine range has grown in popularity among horse farm owners and managers around South Africa. Numerous Equine centers use Probio in their stables, notably Cavalli Stud Farm and Vine Hill near Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Elra Tonkin, a saddle horse trainer at Cavalli Stud Farm, highly recommends Probio as a cost effective and easy to use all-round horse care solution. The products help the estate to save hugely on stable supplies as well as vet bills: Before using the Probio Equine range, they went through ten bags of shavings a day for twenty stalls, and now they’re down to just four bags.

The Probio Equine range addresses all elements of horse care, and many of the products are multi-purpose. Elra uses Odour Away, a versatile product that simultaneously combats odours and other potential health threats. Some of the benefits of using Odour Away, Elra says, are reductions in dustiness and dryness caused by accumulating shavings: ‘The horses' hooves don't dry out, they stay healthy…the horses don't cough either - it's a fantastic product.’ Elra states that ‘you can walk into the stalls, day or night, and the smell is wonderful’.

Since using Probio, the stables at Cavalli have become almost completely free of flies. Leslie-Anne Leigh of Vine Hell has had the same positive experiences with the Probio Equine range, which she has used on her farm for three years. In a recent interview, she stated that the flies in her stables have ‘completely disappeared’. She also remarked on the benefit of being able to re-use manure as compost, continuing the natural cycle of healthy bacteria across the farm.

The Probio Equine range works by creating and maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in the stables. The Equine range, comprised of Bio Clean and Odour Away, helps you to control ammonia levels in stables, reduce fly pests, save on sawdust and straw bedding and increase manure management options. Together, they address numerous areas of Equine health and care, providing an all-natural and highly effective alternative to chemical-based products.

Bio Clean is an industrial strength probiotic cleaning concentrate containing powerful microbes and their metabolites that break down grease, grime and dirt. The microorganisms found in Odour Away feed on the high levels of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds found in stables. Applying Odour Away changes the underlying microbial ecology to one that is balanced and healthy. It works by treating the problem, as opposed to merely deodorizing the symptoms. This product can eliminate the source of foul odours before they occur, making it a sustainable Equine hygiene solution.

As the testimonies from Cavalli Stud Farm and Vine Hill demonstrate, the Probio Equine range is dynamic and highly effective, addressing a plethora of horse care issues using safe and natural probiotic technology. These products ensure a cleaner stable environment and happier horses, and are rapidly becoming a trusted all-round Equine care solution across South Africa.

Probio is also developing a range of digestive products namely Bio Livestock and Livestock Bokashi to include in the Equine Range.

TomTom Runner Cardio

TomTom launched the Runner Cardio GPS sport watch with cutting-edge heart rate technology. The Runner Cardio has a built-in Heart Rate Monitor, eliminating the need for a separate chest strap.

The Runner Cardio makes it easy to train in the optimal heart rate zone. Runners can select one of five intensity zones to match their training goals and will receive alerts to know whether they need to speed up or slow down. Runners can see real-time heart rate, distance, pace and other essential running information at a glance, while running.

“Once again, TomTom is making innovative technology accessible to everyone,” says Daan Hendrickx, Country Manager of TomTom Southern Africa. “We know that heart rate monitoring is the single most accurate way to understand how the body is responding to exercise. Now, with the launch of the Runner Cardio, all runners can easily use heart rate training to improve

The Runner Cardio accurately measures heart rate with a Mio® optical sensor, which monitors changes in blood flow by shining light through the skin.

The TomTom Runner Cardio is available from 14 August at selected retailers with a RRP of R3799.00. There is also a Multi-Sport Cardio sport watch available from 14 August at selected retailers with a RRP of R4599.00. The Multi-Sport Cardio Bundle which includes Altimeter, Cadence and HRM is available from 14 August at selected retailers with a RRP of R5599.00.

Tsogo Sun Moves For Life chess programme is a boost to education

Launched less than a year ago, Tsogo Sun’s Moves for Life chess programme is taking the game to  31 000 learners in more than 100 schools and has trained over 900 teachers schools around the country, with encouraging reports of improved academic performance. 

In support of the proven benefits of chess as an educational tool, Susan Polgar, four-time world chess champion, says, “According to research, test scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.6% for children participating in other forms of enriched activities."

Marcel von Aulock, CEO of Tsogo Sun, says the group chose to support chess in its far-reaching corporate social investment programme as chess fits well with its strategy of promoting sport and education in our schools. “Also important is that chess is one of the government’s top 16 priority sporting codes for inclusion at school level and so it aligns closely with government’s educational initiatives.”

Much of the success of the programme can be attributed to the fact that, while significant research over many years has established that chess contributes to many skillsets within a child’s development, the game is primarily fun and appealing to children – which means they’re gaining skills in maths, science and lifeskills while they’re playing.  Much research backs up claims that chess improves concentration; it develops logical and abstract thinking, analytical, visualisation and decision-making skills, among others,” said von Aulock.

The Moves For Life programme has a number of sponsors across the country, including BHP Billiton, Sasol as well as Anglo American, increasing the programme’s reach and impacting over 100 schools, 900 teachers and 31 000 students. Chief Education Specialist of the Western Cape government, Naomi Meyer, is impressed by what she has seen happening with chess in schools. “I believe that chess is an important development tool during the foundation phase (Grade R to Grade 3 learners) and I aim to implement the Tsogo Sun Moves for Life chess programme in every school in the Western Cape.”

The Tsogo Sun Moves for Life programme is divided into three key elements, namely MiniChess (Grade R to Grade 3), MasterMoves (nine years and older), and teacher training.  It has been implemented in six provinces in which Tsogo Sun’s leisure destinations are located, reaching ten schools in the Soweto area; six in Diepsloot near Fourways; 11 on the West Rand; three in Welkom in the Free State; 10 on the West Coast and six in Mossel Bay – both in the Western Cape; two in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal; and two in Witbank in Mpumalanga.

MiniChess impacts all learners in the class, and is part of the school timetable. The focus throughout the lessons and activities is on fun – learning through play.

Grade 5 learner at Dumezweni Primary School, Asavela Mbewana, is adamant that “chess improved my maths.” And John Rramarumo, Principal of Muzomuhle Primary adds that the Tsogo Sun Moves for Life programme goes even further and “enables learners to believe in themselves.”

Mickey Scheepers, a Trustee of Tsogo Sun Moves for Life agrees, “The greatest gift you can give a child between the ages of 6 and 9 is self-confidence.” He says that the Tsogo Sun Moves for Life initiative “is fuelled by people who believe that every South African child has the potential to become a world-class citizen.  Participation in chess, and in particular the Moves for Life programme, positively impacts a child’s attitude towards life; a ‘can do’ boldness is an essential element for any type of human achievement. Our partnership with Tsogo Sun is very beneficial as it is providing a massive boost to the sustainability of the initiative and lending credibility to one of the most successful educational interventions in South Africa.”