TZ golfers keen on Africa glory

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s golf standard will be subjected to yet another test this week when the national team competes in the All African Challenge Trophy, which tees off tomorrow at the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Zimbabwe

Captained by Victor Joseph, the national golf team players say they have what it takes to defy the odds and return home as new Challenge Trophy champions.

Banking on players who performed impressively in the Zone V Championship at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club three months ago, the golfers have been in Zimbabwe since Saturday.

Other players in the squad are Seif Mcharo, Amani Said and Richard Mtweve. “We are here to show Africa that Tanzania grooms prolific golfers who can compete against the continent’s best players,” Joseph, who is the top player in the country’s order of merits, told The Citizen by phone from Harare yesterday.

The skipper thanked Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) for facilitating the team’s trip to Zimbabwe, saying victory was the only reward the national golf governing body deserves.

“The All African Challenge Trophy is the continent’s biggest golf tournament that draws the cream of golfers from various countries across the continent. We are ready to face them now,” he said confidently.

For his part, Said had similar views, adding that he is well drilled to shine at the tournament though he admitted the mission would likely be very tough.

The player said he and teammates want Tanzania to claim number one position after failing finishing runners up in the Zone V Championship behind Kenya.

The team was flagged off on Friday at TPDF Lugalo Club in a brief but colourful ceremony attended by officials of clubs and TGU.

Reports from Zimbabwe had it yesterday that preparations for the biannual continental Championship, which ends on Friday at the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls, were in top gear.

Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) Chairman, Joseph Tango says they players are in a positive frame of mind and well prepared for the title challenge.

Countries expected to field golfers in the tournament include defending champions South Africa, Ghana, Seychelles, Mali and Nigeria.