The Africa Region IV Golf Championship ended on Sunday in Kigali with Uganda finishing second to East African neighbours Kenya.
Although the team failed on its target to finish as champions, the captain Joseph Cwinya-ai believes that the expedition in the Rwanda capital has left the squad emboldened.
Cwinya-ai was the team’s best performer with an aggregate score of five-under over the four rounds. Only him and Joseph Reagan Akena played the four days under.
“What is clear is that we should play more tournaments outside of Uganda to build on our confidence, exposure and experience,” Cwinya-ai noted.
“To get used to courses of this nature, we must purpose to play many tournaments in Kenya,” he added. The Kenya amateur calendar is extremely robust, and has kept its amateur golfers busy all year round. It was not a surprise that Kenya, represented by Michael Karanga, John Lejirma, Adel Balala and Elvis Muigua, emerged best.
Karanga, East Africa’s number one, finished at twelve-under. He was followed by Cwinya-ai while Akena was fifth. Joseph Kasozi and Ibrahim Ssemakula shot 21 and 30-over respectively.
Taking the positives
Cwinya-ai was nonetheless optimistic that the Kigali trip will stand Uganda in good stead ahead of the All-Africa Golf Team Championship due at Bulawayo Golf Club in Zimbabwe in just over three weeks’ time.
“For the team, this was a good outing to prepare the country for Zimbabwe. Winning is always the goal but when you don’t win, you dig the positives in the experience and we shall be in better shape both physically and mentally when we go to Bulawayo,” he explained.
Kenya garnered 841 strokes for their victory, which was 34 better than Uganda (875). Hosts Rwanda were third with 899 ahead of Mauritius (906), Seychelles (906) and Ethiopia (994).
National team coach Flavia Namakula is in all likelihood expected to ring changes in the team that will represent the country in Zimbabwe. Elton Thembo is tipped to be in the reckoning to make the trip to Bulawayo. The team returns today evening.
Courtesy Photos
