BATTLE OF THE SPORTS Challenge
The BrightRock Battle of the Sports event will see 12 of Mzansi’s leading cricket, rugby, running and soccer icons, 3 per team, as well as expedition-leader, Erik Vermeulen, go head- to-head in an all-out 200km endurance race against time – unassisted, unsupported and challenged by an expedition clock that never stops – on the dry salt pans of the Verneukpan in the Northern Cape. The entire event is being staged with these iconic sportsmen and woman to inspire others, through this event to raise funds for VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY COVID.
To be part of this worthy cause, and in support of these teams that have put their bodies through this gruelling event, we are challenging sports icon from every sport possible, as well as ordinary citizens from all walks of life, sports fans and corporates to engage in any form of physical activity or simply to donate in solidarity of our heroes – and to be part of the BrightRock Battle of the Sports event which our sports icons are participating in, on the Verneukpan in the Northern Cape.
Rugby | Running | soccer | & Cricket Team
UNSUPPORTED and unassisted
4
Per Team
200
KM
4
Days Per Trek
RACE of a lifetime
The Crossings
1
06 – 09
September
Team Rugby
2
17 – 20
September
Team Running
3
28 – 02
SEP/OCT
Team Soccer
4
09 – 12
October
Team Cricket
TEAM RUGBY
#TeamRugby: John Smit, Schalk Brits, Hanyani Shimange and Butch James first to take on the 200km challenge around the Verneukpan, Northern Cape and aim to settle a solid defendable time against the three teams to follow
JOHN SMIT
50th captain of the Springboks / Played a record 46 consecutive games for SA / At retirement, most capped South African player/ At retirement, most capped captain
SCHALK BRITS
Played in 2015 & 2019 Rugby World Cup squads / 15 Tests for the Springboks between 2008 – 2019 / 216 games for Saracens between 2006 – 2018
HANYANI SHIMANGE
Springboks debut in 2004 / 9 tests for the Springboks / Played for the Sharks, Free State Cheetahs and Western Province in the Currie Cup
Butch James
Andrew David “Butch” James is a former South African union rugby player who represented South Africa 40 times and was a member of the team that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup.




TEAM RUNNING
#TeamRunning: Bongmusa Mthembu, Jenna Challenor, David Gatebe and Bruce Fordyce aim to set a record breaking 200km pulling a cart, in order to inspire millions to raise money for Covid care and critical treatment.
DAVID GATEBE
Broke down-run record at the 2016 Comrades Marathon/ Won 2016 Comrades Marathon / 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon
BONGMUSA MTHEMBU
3-time Comrades Marathon winner / Two Oceans Marathon winner / 2nd and 3rd at the IAU 100km World Championships
JENNA CHALLENOR
2 x Two Oceans Gold Medalist/ Represented SA in 2014 & 2017 IAAF/ 2019 Comrades Gold Medalist
Bruce Fordyce
Bruce Noel Stevenson Fordyce (Born 3 December 1955 in Hong Kong) in a South Africa marathon and ultra-marathon runner athlete.




TEAM SOCCER
#TeamSoccer: Siyabonga Nomvethe, Matthew Booth, Teko Modise, Neil Tovey take on the 200km challenge to raise funds for vulnerable populations and defend soccer’s honour in the BrightRock #BattleoftheSports.
SIYABONGA NOMVETHE
Represented SA in 81 games / Played in 2 Soccer World Cups / Highest all-time goal scorer in PSL
MATTHEW BOOTH
Played 28 matched for Bafana Bafana including the 2010 World Cup / Captained the SA U23 Team at the 2000 Olympics / Played for Cape Town Spurs, Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town
TEKO MODISE
66 appearances for South Africa / Represented SA at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations / 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup / 2010 FIFA World Cup tournaments
Neil Tovey
Neil Robert Tovey (born 2 July 1962) is a South African football coach and former player, and brother of former footballer Mark Tovey.




TEAM CRICKET
#TeamCricket: Makhaya Ntini, Lance Klusener, Monde Zondeki and Jonty Rhodes are competing for the BrightRock #BattleoftheSports glory to prove that cricket has what it takes to finish this grueling race and to raise funds in support of Covid relief.
MAKHAYA NTINI
Third South African bowler to take 300 test wickets / Second place in the ICC Test match bowling ratings / First South African to take 10 wickets at Lord’s
LANCE KLUSENER
1999 World Cup – Man of the Tournament / Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2000 / One of the best & most feared allrounders in world OD
MONDE ZONDEKI
Leading wicket-taker in the 2007–08 South African season / Played five Tests and seven ODI’s for South Africa / Played three One Day Internationals for the African X
Jonty Rhodes
Jonathan Neil Rhodes (Jonty) is a South Africa cricket commentator and former Test and One Day International cricketer.




TEAM LEADER
ERIK
Vermeulen
Erik Vermeulen, adventurer, explorer, endurance athlete and BrightRock Battle of the Sports expedition leader, has summited and guided teams to some of the world’s highest mountains, including Aconcagua (6965m), the second highest of the 7 summits.
He pioneered, the Munga Trail, a 400km trail run that is featured by Runners World International as one of the toughest races on the planet.
The Route
The Battle of the Sports takes place on the desolate and flat Verneukpan in the
Northern Cape. It is approximately 53km long and 11km wide and found its place in
automotive history in 1926 when Sir Malcolm Campbell attempted to break the land speed record in his dragster named Blue Bird.
Teams will have to battle not only the geography, but also weather conditions that vary
from severe heat to bitter cold – typical desert conditions, amplified by the almost
incessant daytime winds. The pan is completely flat meaning that there will be no respite for tired muscles.
Teams will start at the North Western corner and complete an anti-clockwise trek before finishing where they started. The route zig-zags to avoid fences.
BATTLE OF THE SPORTS CHALLENGE
HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?
Support your sports teams who are doing the Verneukpan 200 km challenge by donating to this worthy cause.
- Go to www.battleofthesports.co.za to support the team of your choice or simply to donate
- Use the hashtag #battleofthesportschallenge #lovechange when posting
- Challenge as many of your friends, schools, clubs, corporates as possible to support to this worthy cause by tagging them.










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