National team captain Joseph Cwinya-ai says the national team was very motivated and inspired when they travelled to Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort two weeks ago to challenge eternal rivals Kenya for the Victoria Cup, which they won at the weekend.
“I saw the faces of my colleagues and sensed a certain happiness, comfort, joy and contentment in everyone,” Cwinya-ai explained yesterday at a breakfast organised at Uganda Golf Club to welcome back the 12-man contingent.
“As a sportsman, motivation is very important. And when I saw it, I knew that we were more than capable of delivering results.”
The team was received by Honourable Dicksons Kateshumba, a trustee of the Uganda Professionals Golfers Association and ardent golfer, who reiterated parliament’s enthusiasm for the game of golf.
He promised to have the team’s achievement recognised by parliament. Each member of the team, including team manager Paul Habyarimana and coach Flavia Namakula, was handed an envelope.
The money was raised among golf enthusiasts and channelled through the Union as a token of appreciation following their victory, which has traditionally been dominated by Kenya.
The Uganda Golf Union President Jackson Were observed that the Union would continue with its policy of championing junior golf development.
“We took a young team to Kenya and people called and complained,” Were said. “But we knew what we were doing.”
He also thanked the National Council of Sports and government for funding the team’s travel to Kenya.
Cwinya-ai, meanwhile, wondered why anyone would have had reservations about his young colleagues. “We have formidable talent,” he remarked.
“Why would people think they (Kenya) would easily run over us? The boys had their bags. And their bags had 14 clubs. They may be young men but they have hearts of lions, and they proved it.”
Uganda’s Victoria Cup team included 15-year-old Peter Mayende (Lugazi), 16-year-old Anthony Otukei (Lugazi), 18-year-old Ibrahim Ssemakula (Lugazi) and 19-year-old Joseph Reagan Akena (Lugazi).
Other young but already tested members like John Musiimenta (UGC) and Elton Thembo (Entebbe) are 20 and 21 respectively.
