By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE Zambian golfing fraternity converge in Kabwe today to take stock of the events of the past year and brainstorm on a new course to take for the local sport.
Administrators from all 23 golf clubs across the nation are expected at Kabwe Golf Club to attend the non-elective Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) annual general meeting. ZGU will be heading to the polls next year.
Some of the 2014 highlights the golfing family will look at is Zambia’s move to stage two major international tournaments sanctioned by Sunshine Tour – the Mopani Copper Mines Zambia Open and Zambia Sugar Open.
Mopani staked $250,000 in prize money for Zambia Open held at the refurbished Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe while Zambia Sugar announced an astonishing three-year deal to sponsor the Zambia Sugar Open in Lusaka.
With the influence of immediate-past ZGU president Joe Malanji, who is now Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president, Zambia also staged the inaugural AGC President’s Cup.
Prior to the three international events, Zambia also hosted the All Africa Junior Challenge with the local budding players clinching bronze for a second year on the trot behind South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Top amateur Timothy Sondashi capped his outstanding performance in the year by winning the inaugural Windhoek Lager Jacket in Namibia.
ZGU president Charles Mwanza described 2014 as successful year and that the performance of amateur golfers on the international stage had improved despite their failure to make cuts at the Mopani Zambia Open and Zambia Sugar.
Mwanza also paid tribute to Zambia Sugar for their immense
contributions to golf development in the recent past and that the
sponsorship of the Zambia Sugar Open for three consecutive years was a
milestone for the local sport.
ZGU still have one more programme for this year, bringing in of two top class golf experts to conduct clinics for juniors with 40 youngsters expected to be benefit.
Local professional golfers Patrick Mwendapole and Steve Mbewe would be attached to the experts during the coaching clinics and would in turn go round in peri-urban to help nurture some raw talents.
The complexion of the ZGU executive committee will also look slight different with the co-option of former Chainama Hill captain, Jason Kazilimani junior as the new vice-president south who takes over from Innocent Chalabesa.
Chalabesa was appointed Sports Council of Zambia (SCZ) acting general secretary, joining former ZGU president, Emmanuel Katebe at the national governing authority where the latter is vice-chairperson.
Going forward, ZGU is looking to the future with renewed hope as two major international events (Mopani Zambia Open and Zambia Sugar Open) are guaranteed fixtures on the calendar next year.
Mopani has this time partnered with Redpath Mining to co-sponsor the 2015 Zambia Open Championship with increased prize money of $300,000.
With Malanji at the helm of continental golf governing body, Zambia has also been handed the rights to again organize the All.