Monitor flies out golf team to Addis
From left: Rugumayo, Muhumuza, Cwinyaai, Ochaya, Gaita and Mutebi before setting off from Uganda Golf Club yesterday. The team was sponsored by Daily Monitor. PHOTO BY ALEX ESAGALA
What you need to know:
- The six teams in the fray; host nation Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, will then exchange pleasantries in the matchplay singles (Thursday), four betterball and foursomes (Friday) before wrapping up the three-day 72-hole contest with a singles round on Saturday.
- The seven-man team that flew out last evening (6.40pm) aboard Ethiopian Airlines has a new captain in Jinja-born Becca Mwanja and a rookie in Rodwell Gaita, born and bred in Fort Portal but currently working as a caddie at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) Kitante course.
KAMPALA. With 11 titles in the bag, Kenya are the undisputed record champions of the East African Golf Challenge Trophy (EAGCT).
But Uganda’s recent rise as justified by their triumph at the Africa Zone VI Champions in April 2015 at Uganda Golf Club (UGC), Kitante and back-to-back titles at the EAGCT in Kampala and Kigali, Rwanda have seen the team’s reputation grow threefold and forthwith won it a hatful of admirers and sponsors.
Daily Monitor, Uganda’s leading daily, in conjunction with Ethiopian Airlines became the latest converts with the two companies working out a deal worth six return air-tickets for the team to Addis Ababa.
“The team has been sponsored by none other than Daily Monitor,” exclaimed Uganda Golf Union (UGU) president Johnson Omollo when relaying the information to journalists before the team’s departure from Kampala yesterday.
“The tickets we purchased for the team are as a result of an understanding with Ethiopian Airlines,” clarified Monitor Publications Managing Director Tony Glencross, a man who is no rookie at the game of birdies and bogeys.
The seven-man team that flew out last evening (6.40pm) aboard Ethiopian Airlines has a new captain in Jinja-born Becca Mwanja and a rookie in Rodwell Gaita, born and bred in Fort Portal but currently working as a caddie at Uganda Golf Club (UGC) Kitante course. Tooro Golf Club’s Joseph Cwinyaai also returns from the wilderness after wrapping up his academic obligations.
The pair of 2015 Uspa Sportsman of the Year Ronald Otile and Daniel Baguma, who will link up with the team from their training camp in Pretoria, was scheduled to leave O.R Tambo International in South Africa at 11pm yesterday.
In the absence of coach Amos Kamya, whose visa was delayed and will only join the team tonight, former manager Edwin Tumusiime will act as caretaker manager.
The tournament that will be played at the nine-hole army-owned Addis Ababa Golf Club (AAGC) officially tees off with the practice round tomorrow.
The six teams in the fray; host nation Ethiopia, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda, will then exchange pleasantries in the matchplay singles (Thursday), four betterball and foursomes (Friday) before wrapping up the three-day 72-hole contest with a singles round on Saturday.
Uganda are chasing their fifth title and Mwanja was optimistic as the team flew out. “We have done the hard bit which is training,” said the UGC member. “Now we have to go and have a look at the course in Addis early. We are confident.”
TEAM UGANDA
Becca Mwanja (h/c 0 captain), Herman ‘Deco’ Mutebi (h/c 0), Martin Ochaya (h/c 0), Gaita Rodwell (h/c 5), Adolf Muhumuza (h/c +1), Ronald Rugumayo (h/c 0), Joseph Cwinyaai (h/c +1), Ronald Otile (h/c 0), Daniel Baguma (h/c 0) Coach: Amos Kamya.
