Ahead of the final three legs of the 2021/22 Safari Tour season in Kenya, Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA) Captain Deo Akope has received a sponsorship package worth UGX34M from ATX Technology for the said events which serve as qualifiers for the 2022 Magical Kenya Open, a European Tour event scheduled for March.
This development was confirmed on Wednesday at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) terrace in a press briefing and both parties expressed delight in joining hands with Akope set to embark on his sojourn on Thursday.
“Participating in such tournaments is expensive and so having sponsors is critical,” ATX Technology Managing Director, Patrice Aliaki said adding that; “another reason we’re doing this is because we love to support role models in all walks of life.”
Aliaki was flanked by ATX Technology Sales and Marketing Manager, Ritah Kuteesa who said that they delight in supporting talent adding that the sponsoship package will cater for all the three legs of the tour.
In the last leg of the Safari Tour held in Kenya, Akope came atop a talented field of professional golfers as he shot 282 (75, 68, 68, 71) gross in four rounds at the Nyali Golf and Country Club leg (fourth leg of Season 4) in Mombasa in October 2021, making him the first Ugandan to do so.
Albeit beating tough Kenyan pair of Dismas Indiza and Simon Ngige (tied for second) by two strokes at Nyali, Akope later tied for ninth with two others during the 2021 Uganda Golf Open which was the fifth leg of the Safari Tour held in December at Entebbe Golf Club.
However, on Wednesday, Akope said that he is currently on top his game and he’s ready to disrupt the pre-tour pecking order in Kenya once again at all three legs, that is; Limuru Country Club (22nd to 26th January 2022), Karen Country Club (5th to 9th February 2022) and Muthaiga Golf Club (12th to 16th February 2022).
“I feel my game is up there and I am ready to compete with the best and fly the Uganda flag high,” Akope who is managed by Paul Kaheru said adding that he’s grateful to ATX Technology for having accepted their proposal to sponsor him in the remaining legs of the Safari Tour.
For Africa, three foreign (not Kenyan) players will qualify for the Magical Kenya Open while Kenya has 12 slots.
Akope is currently the third best foreign player on the 59-player Safari Tour table with 101.0 points but he’s 12th overall. Zimbabwe’s Robson Chinhoi is best foreign player with 241.7 points but he’s second overall, Paul Chidale from Malawi is third best foreign player with 107.8 points but he’s 11th overall while Kenya’s Dismas Indiza is overall leader with 268.2 points.
