By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE prestigious 2014 Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) President’s Cup gets underway today after several months of preparations with eight countries parading their top amateur players at the picturesque Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.
A symbolic but colourful flag-raising ceremony yesterday signalled the start of four days of action.
The AGC President’s Cup, which was preceded by two corporate golf days, has come to Zambia for the first time following the ascending to the continental golf body’s top seat by immediate-past Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) president, Joe Malanji.
Hosts Zambia will battle for the coveted trophy against archrivals, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia, Malawi, Nigeria and Kenya.
Zambia has assembled a crack squad consisting of Timothy Sondashi, Aaron Simfukwe jnr, Denmark Mulambo and Peter Munyinya while Mukuka Mwango jnr is a reserve player.
Coach Patrick Mwendapole rates Zambia’s chances of being crowned AGC President’s Cup champions high, saying the tournament is being held at a time the local players were in top form.
“We’ve prepared well. We’ve been in camp for two weeks. The players are ready for the tournament. They have been practicing well and they are on top of their game. The tournament has come at the right time when the boys are on top of their game.
We’ve a big chance of winning the 2014 AGC President’s Cup especially that we’ve home ground advantage,” Mwendapole said after yesterday’s official practice round for all teams.
He, however, reckons that Zimbabwe and Uganda were major threats to Zambia’s title aspirations.
Zimbabwe also rate their chances high with veteran coach Roger Baylis said he had put together a solid team for the new continental golf tournament.
“We have a very solid team of talented locally-based players. They have been very active on the local amateur circuit and head to Zambia in very good form. Obviously the team would have been a lot stronger if we had the overseas based players but despite their absence I still believe we have a strong squad,” Baylis said before setting off for Kitwe.
Zimbabwe has Tonderai Masunga, Thembelani Vundla, Visitor Mapwanya and
Robson Chinhoyi.
Uganda Amateur Open champion, Willy Deus Kitata leads a national team which also has Robert Oluba, Henry Luggya, Peter Ssendaula and Adolf Muhumuza.
The Namibian team is also eager to make an impression at the AGC President’s Cup.
Namibia Amateur Golf Union president, Marco Swarts said despite Zambia posing a big threat, the team was determined to perform well this week.
“The team is playing well and the boys like the greens. We know Zambia as hosts will be strong. But we must challenge the course first and then things will be okay,” Swarts said in an interview.
Nkana Golf Club captain, Elario Musonda said the Kitwe club was honoured to stage the first-ever AGC President’s Cup in Zambia and paid tribute to Malanji for according them such an opportunity.
Musonda said Nkana was ready to host the event and assured the visiting foreign teams of the best hospitality.
Nkana, the hosts for the 2015 Mopani Copper Mines Zambia Open Championship, has added some water features on the 15th and 18th, making the refurbished course more attractive.
At the close of the 72-hole strokeplay tournament on Friday, AGC will honour president of the senate for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, David Alechenu Mark and outgoing Kenya Airways chief executive officer, Titus Naikuni for their distinguished service to African golf development.