National Council of Sports General Secretary Dr Bernard Patrick Ogwel has expressed confidence in the strides the game of golf has undertaken in recent years ahead of the Victoria Cup that is due this week at the par-71 Entebbe Club. Ogwel made the revelation as he flagged off the team that will be defending the trophy they won at Kipipiri Golf Course in Kenya last year.
“I have observed that golf is growing by the day,” Ogwel said at the NCS Headquarters at Lugogo. “Many more people are picking up the game both in Kampala and upcountry and that is a side of growth. Similarly, when I see the team before me here, I see many young faces who are in the team, And I have been told that many of them are either at school or university, which is a very good policy by the Union.”
Ogwel, who reiterated that government was going to increase the subvention for golf, called upon the players to understand and appreciate that their efforts come Thursday to Saturday will be a representation of what Uganda has to offer in the game. “You are not playing for the Union; you are representing the entire population of Uganda so I want to remind you all to have that at the back of your minds when the tournament gets started.”
Present at the event were representatives of MTN Momo, NCBA and Prudential, who have come in to support the team’s defence of the prestigious town. NCBA are title sponsors and their Head of Marketing, Communications and Citizenship Edgar B. Tusiime expressed the bank’s pride in associating with the Team Uganda and the Victoria Cup. “We support the game at all levels, from the juniors to the top, and we hope that our boys can do what they did last year by emerging as champions.”
Uganda’s team, currently in camp in Entebbe, will be captained by John Musiimenta. The team manager is Paul Habyarimana with Flavia Namakula as the coach. The golfers in the team are Joseph Kasozi, Peter Mayende, Joseph Reagan Akena, Elton Thembo and Amon Bwambale.
Others are Godfrey Kambale, Abdul Kakeeto, Abdullah Kakooza and Andrew Ssekibejja.
The flag-raising ceremony for the event is due to be held at Entebbe Club on Wednesday evening. The Attorney General, Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who is a former President of the Uganda Golf Union, will be the Guest of Honour.
Key to retaining the title will be adaptability to the unpredictable weather conditions that are expected during the tournament. However, coach Namakula remains unfazed. “We have players who were part of last year’s team, and some new ones. They are all raring to go.”
