Growing up, Victor ‘Manucho’ Marçal would never have believed that he’d be playing alongside the European Ryder Cup captain at a DP World Tour event. His story is an inspiring one of defying the odds to become Angola’s best and most-loved golfer.

DP World, the leading provider of smart supply chain solutions and title partner of the DP World Tour, heard about his incredible golfing story and his ambition to grow the game in his home country — breaking down stereotypes, regardless of social class — and wanted to help.

Victor ‘Manucho’ Marcal. DP World

Born in Luanda, Victor started playing golf at a young age in his hometown in 1993, however, but didn’t have any golfing equipment, using a cork as a ball and a twisted iron stick as a club. A local woman helped him on his journey, giving him some golf lessons and an old club, making him practise every day, working on his game.

His dedication and perseverance paid off, having now won more than 60 national titles in Angola with dreams of playing in international amateur tournaments in 2023. It’s a story of smart possibilities, showing what can be done through hard work and commitment, against all odds.

Victor ‘Manucho’ Marcal played with Luke Donald at the Nedbank Challenge. DP World

Victor was invited to the Nedbank Golf Challenge — the penultimate event on last season’s DP World Tour — to play in the Pro-Am alongside Team Europe Ryder Cup captain and former world No. 1 Luke Donald, a day which he will never forget.

“It was exciting to be part of Luke Donald’s team, who is an excellent person and player,” Victor said. “I was very happy to be given the opportunity. It was a great feeling. I didn’t expect to play with players who were the best in the world. I hope DP World continue to support golf, and I thank them a lot for that.”

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Donald added: “It’s a really inspiring story. I mean I think there is only one grass course in Angola, but Victor is self-taught, and he grew up as a caddie, and the players thought he was too good, and they said: ‘You’d better come and play.’ Now he’s +1 (handicap). He made an eagle on 2, he made a birdie at 12. A very homemade swing, he’s a great driver of the ball and a great player.”

Daniel van Otterdijk, Chief Communications Officer at DP World, also reflected on Victor’s journey. “Victor inspired us to get him to the Nedbank and give him that chance with Luke Donald,” he said. “He typifies what we’re trying to do, he is the kind of guy that will benefit from the DP World Tour, spreading its wings and giving many more people the chance to play golf who otherwise couldn’t. For us, he’s a classic case study on what we’re trying to do and it’s a wonderful story at the same time.”