Former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe will be the special guest at the DSA Open being staged at Emirates Golf Club later this week.
Sharpe – who won a host of honours with the Red Devils in Sir Alex Ferguson’s early tenure at Old Trafford – will take part in a charity golf event during the day on Thursday, September 13, before being the guest speaker at a question and answer session in the evening.
The event is part of the DHL Swing Against Cancer Golf Series and is being organised by Worldwide Golf and Sixteen10.
The occasion is held to support and raise awareness of treatment for three-year-old Mohammad Sameer Abdullah’s treatment, who was recently diagnosed with leukemia.
Sharpe, who won three Premier League titles and two FA Cups with United, established his own foundation after retiring, the Lee Sharpe Foundation, so was all too happy to get involved this week.
Emirates Golf Club will play host to the event on Thursday, September 13.
“I’ve had my own foundation for the last 12 years so I try and do my bit,” said the 47-year-old.
“We raise funds for children’s cancers and charities, stillborn charities, anything kid-related, we make a donation every year.
“As a footballer, I think it’s important to get involved in charitable events and causes because we can. You have the opportunity as a footballer and the support of a lot of people.
“It’s a family run charity, run by family friends Colin and Tina Booth who do a great job. We generally raise between £15-20,000 on the night of our annual gala dinner.”
Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course will kick-off proceedings on Thursday, with the golf getting under way at 13:30 in a shotgun start.
That will be followed by a barbecue and refreshments and then an ‘evening with Lee Sharpe’, a former player renowned as one of the best after dinner speakers on the circuit.
The event and evening dinner are now sold out but interested parties are encouraged to get in touch via e-mail in order to be added to the waiting list.
Sharpe has been holidaying in Dubai for a number of years and can’t wait to get out on the course at Emirates GC.
“A friend of a friend, Steve Kelshaw, is sponsoring the event. I know him and a friend of his, Simon Hurd, who’s a golfer. They asked me if I fancied coming over to help out Mohammed,” added Sharpe, who joined United from Torquay in 1988 and played for the Red Devils for eight years, before leaving for rivals Leeds United in 1996.
“I love Dubai, the place, I love golf and to raise awareness for a good cause is always a bonus.
“I’ve been coming tom Dubai for the last 20-25 years maybe. I’ve seen a lot of changes but throughout all of them I still think the Emirates (golf club) is my favourite along with the Creek.
Sharpe was bought by Sir Alex Ferguson in 1988.
“I love coming over here. I love the place, the people, the service, the weather, the golf, it’s all five star.”
Sharpe won the PFA Young Player of the Year award while at United following the 1990/91 season, having helped the club to win the European Cup Winners’ Cup that season.
Other sporting and non-sporting celebrities to have taken part in the ever-growing series are Teddy Sheringham, Mike Tindall, Michael Campbell, Didi Hammann, Gary McAllister, Harry Redknapp as well as former Westlife singer Brian McFadden.
Matt Le Tissier is already confirmed for the grand final of the series, which also doubles up as the Mike Clark Golf Day on Thursday, November 1, which is also being played in Dubai, at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
*To register your interest for the event, email [email protected] and for more information head to www.swingagainstcancer.com.