Uganda revels in historic Victoria Cup triumph

Neither Team Uganda nor Team Kenya saw it coming. For the longer part of the Victoria Golf Cup, Uganda always played second fiddle.

Even when team Uganda’s coach Flavia Namakula and Uganda Golf Union (UGU) spoke in high levels of optimism, few would have imagined the Victoria Cup trophy was coming home.

And so, captain Joseph Cwinyaai and company did not have to wait for Elton Thembo to beat Kenyan challenger Elly Barno 1-up in Saturday’s singles for the celebrations to begin at the new lavish Mount Kipipiri Golf & Resort in Naivasha, Kenya.

First win in six years

Uganda had required four points from 10 matches to seal a historic triumph. Since tournament inception in 2016, the country had only coasted clear in 2019 on home soil.

Victory in Naivasha was special. “I feel happy and proud having won it for the first time in Kenya,” remarked Cwinyaai.

“It feels great. This is the only victory that I’ve been looking for ever since I became the national team coach. And I’m glad it has come with the young boys on the (senior) team,” stated national coach Namakula.

Namakula had named a 10-man team with six of the players being 21 years or younger. The team arrived in Kenya nearly a week before the Victoria Cup.

Early arrivals in Naivasha

“We got to Kenya early. The boys played the NCBA Muthaiga Open before heading out to Kipipiri. We got to Kipipiri and the weather was not all that favourable. I’m glad the boys were able to adapt to it early,” said Namakula.

“On arrival, the course was playing dry but we came with blessings and rains from Uganda and it totally changed our style of play,” Cwinyaai admitted.

On Day One on Thursday, Kenya beat Uganda 3-1 in four matches of the foursomes, and only the pairing of Peter Mayende and Reagan Akena had tasted victory, 7/6 (7-up with six holes to spare) win over Kenyan captain John Lejirma and Barno.

Akena the star man

The reigning Uganda Open champion Akena was largely unplayable, collecting vital points from pretty-tense matches against the top star Lejirma.

“Before we left Uganda, I had already worked out the pairings. It was just a matter of time to understand the players and understand how well the pairings would be. First round, it’s that day I realized that actually Akena was strong,” Namakula noted.

Later on Thursday, Akena and John Musimenta halved against Lejirma and Daniel Kiragu in the four-ball better-ball contest, which Uganda won 3.5 points to lead by two points overalls.

Musimenta at loss with eagle

In Friday’s foursomes, Uganda won 4-0 thanks to Akena and Mayende after they defeated Ebill Omollo and Raphael Leming’ani 3/2 at the par-4 Hole No.16 green.

And despite Musimenta’s eagle at the par-5 Hole No.7, his combo with Akena lost 2/1 to Lejirma and Kiragu in the Friday afternoon four-ball format. Both countries won two matches there.

“Akena’s games meant a lot to us because he faced Lejirma four times and managed to win two and half one and lose one. Friday’s foursomes showed me that we are having a hand on the trophy,” stated Cwinyaai. 

By Saturday morning, Uganda led by five points and hence, needed three points in the singles to affirm victory.

Here, Kenya began like a house on fire and won four matches; with Lejirma decimating Ibrahim Ssemakula 8/7 and Kiragu beating Abdul Kakeeto 5/4. 

Akena, Okwong, Cwinyaai deliver

However, Akena returned a crucial half-point against Omollo after an unlucky double-bogey on the par-4 Hole No.18.

 Titus Okwong then humbled Tsevi Soni 5/4, Musimenta silenced Josephat Rono 3/2 before Cwinyaai halved the point against Kevin Anyien. By the time Thembo beat Barno, the celebrations had already begun for the team in pink.

"My match helped Uganda because teeing-off Hole No.16, I was 1-down and my game, I only needed to half the match in order to match with Akena’s half to top it up to three wins since Okwong and Musimenta had already won theirs,” added Cwinyaai.

This is the team’s first triumph since the era of UGU president Innocent Kihika.

UGANDA’S WINNING TEAM

Players: Joseph Cwinya-ai (Captain), Joseph Reagan Akena, Elton Thembo, Titus Okwong, John Musiimenta, Abdul Kakeeto, Abdallah Kakooza, Peter Mayende, Anthony Otukei and Ibrahim Ssemakula

Officials: Flavia Namakula (Coach), Paul Habyarimana (Team Manager)

VICTORIA CUP (GOLF)

ROLL OF HONOUR

2016: Kenya

2017: Kenya

2018: Kenya

2019: Uganda

2020: Covid-19

2021: Covid-19

2022: Kenya

2023: Not Held

2024: Uganda/Kenya

2025: Uganda