Neil McKenzie Benefit raises over R92 000 at Tribute Golf Day

A fitting send-off for former Proteas batsman

Former bizhub Highveld Lions and Proteas cricket player, Neil McKenzie, was honoured at a tribute golf day at The Wanderers Golf Club this month. All proceeds from the golf day will be donated to the Neil McKenzie Benefit fund that aims to provide education opportunities to promising young cricketers.

 

The Neil McKenzie Tribute Golf Day was arranged by The Gauteng Cricket Board and the bizhub Highveld Lions in honour of McKenzie’s career as a professional cricket player. The event was proudly sponsored by Matrix, a brand of MiX Telematics – a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions. Matrix is also an official sponsor of the bizhub Highveld Lions cricket team.

 

The golf day attracted more than a 140 players, ranging from industry representatives to media and fans. The event was a resounding success with over R92 000 raised, money that will certainly contribute greatly towards developing South Africa’s future cricket stars.

 

Neil McKenzie, who late last month announced his retirement from cricket, will assume the role of batting consultant at Cricket South Africa which will include working closely with the Proteas. “During my cricket career, I had different ideas of what my life would be like after I hang up my cricket boots, but one vision that remained with me consistently was that of making a substantial difference in the lives of young cricketers – even if it was just a few, so that they too would have access to the types of opportunities that I did during my 21 year career”, says McKenzie.

 

Neil McKenzie’s vision for his benefit program is to focus on a qualitative approach rather than a quantitative one that will make a meaningful change in the lives of the few individuals that will benefit from the fundraising proceeds.

 

We are honoured that we were given the opportunity to get involved in an initiative such as this, one that is dedicated to enriching the lives of our youngest citizens through sports development,” adds Grant Fraser, Product and Marketing Director at MiX Telematics (Africa).

 

McKenzie concludes, “I am tremendously grateful for the terrific send-off that I received in making the event the success that it was – something that I wish upon every cricketer. With the help of all those present on the day, including Matrix, I am confident that we have made a substantial contribution in influencing positive change for the lives of young cricketers, now and into the future.”