Minister dares Jnr golfers to win Tri-Nation tourney
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Francis Phiso on Monday evening challenged local junior golfers to make history by winning the Tri-Nation tournament underway at Lilongwe Golf Club (LGC).
The tournament, which teed-off on Tuesday, has drawn teams from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Phiso called on the Malawi team to wrest the trophy from defending champions Zambia.
“Represent your country well. Win and do us proud. This tournament is a nursery for future golfers. It is a breeding ground for future great players such as Tiger Woods,” he said.
The minister thanked organisers for coming up with the Tri-Nation initiative, saying a solid foundation is critical for the sport’s growth.
Initially, the tournament was supposed to start on Monday, but the Zambia team arrived late.
Tournament director Boyd Luwe, who is also LGC chairperson, said they have done everything to ensure success.
“Since Friday, the team has been camping at Sunbird Lilongwe. We don’t want family distractions. We want players to focus on the game. We have provided everything. Good equipment, good diet and a conducive environment. They are being monitored by professional people,” he said.
National junior golf team coach Chris Kachiguma believes the boys and girls can win the tournament.
“For the past few months we have been busy drilling them. We had two parallel camps in Lilongwe and Blantyre. They are ready to raise the bar and make the country proud,” he said.
In the girls section, hopes are on 13-year-old Deborah Lazaro and 14-year-old Farida Austin.
In the boys category, Victor Khamalatha, 14, and Folindo Rodrick, 15, carry Malawi’s hopes.
Golf Union of Malawi president Hudson Kantwanje said the concept behind the Tri-Nation tournament was to expose young golfers to an international golf tournament.
He urged the golfers to compete fairly, network and build friendships.
