adminNkosilathi Sibanda recently in Hwange
THE recently held Hwange Chaferfly Golf Open had a mark of difference from the previous editions.
There was a mix of professionals, amateurs and youths.
Young golfers, most of them of school-going age, invaded the 18-hole Logan Whishart golf course. With temperatures rising to a high of 38 degrees, the Hwange heat did not deter the young golfers from the greens.
The Hwange Chaferfly Golf Open came at an opportune time when junior golf had taken strides to grow the sport in Matabeleland.
Rightly so, junior golf in the province would not have reached this milestone had it not been for the support of Godfrey Nyakudya, the managing director of Chaferfly Enterprises, and other companies.
Chaferfly Enterprises not only extended financial support to tournaments but also grooms future golfers to be successful professionals as well.
For the past years though, it has not been an easy task to bring pupils closer to the sport. Golf is still seen as an elitist and expensive sport.
Young golfers have come from schools around Hwange. Thomas Coulter Junior and Coalfields are the primary schools heading the pack, with more pupils taking up golf. Most of these learners, however, face a challenge when they go to secondary schools outside Hwange where there are no golf courses.
St Ignatius, Lwendulu and Hwange High have some pupils who are keen on golf.
The Hwange golfers wish to get the assistance of the golf development grant that is received from the world golf governing body, the Royal & Ancient.
According to Mubita Njamba, a golfer who offered to train school children for free, the Hwange junior programme where more than 100 schoolchildren are now active in golf has shown so much potential.
Njamba works hand in hand with Stephen “Zero” Simukai in the talent identification programme.
Both are optimistic the country will see a golf star coming from Hwange.
“The future of Matabeleland golf is in Hwange. Children have developed an interest in the sport in ways unimaginable in the last decade.
“The country is set to benefit if the talent in players we’ve now is groomed well. There’re great plans to spread the programme to Victoria Falls,” Njamba said.
There are calls to introduce the sport in tertiary institutions as well.
Among the young female golfers that took part in the Hwange Chaferfly Open were Mehluko Sibanda, Sandra Malena, Sharon Dlodlo from St Ignatius, Sharon Mafuka from Lwendulu and 17-year-old Anita Mafuka from Hwange High School.
In the boys’ category were Kudzai Zulu, Amon Ncube and Keith Banda. All have played alongside seasoned golfers in a number of tournaments this year.
Banda, a Thomas Coulter Primary School pupil, is now playing off a handicap of 10. Banda is without doubt the best young golfing talent to emerge from the province.
“Both teams comprise the eight-top seeded players who made up the team that took part in the Red Ribbon Hiv and Aids Family Fun Day Golf Tournament at Elephant Hills.
“Their participation received financial backup from Chaferfly Enterprises,” said Njamba.
Hwange is also honing the skills of young golfers in five-year-old Jonathan Brown from Coalfields Primary School as well as Ray Ndlovu and Aaron Mwampamba (Jnr), both aged eight, from Thomas Coulter and Sandile Ndlovu, 8, from Coalfields.
Other junior golfers who have vastly improved since Njamba started his programme in 2012 include Coalfields Primary School pupils Yanusai Banda, Lloyd Madyegasva Jnr, and Edward Museke.
Even with the scotching heat, most pupils from St Ignatius, Thomas Coulter Junior and Coalfields Primary schools have defied the odds. They attend the free coaching lessons.
Njamba confirmed that without Chaferfly Enterprises, their programme would not have taken place.
“We’re thankful to sponsors such as Chaferfly Enterprises. This is not the only company as we’ve worked closely with J&C Engineering, Metmar Industrial and others that’ve contributed greatly by funding tournaments.”
By year end it is likely that Hwange’s up-and-coming golfers will contest in a planned Christmas Open tournament.
“We’re planning to have as many tournaments so that the children get more time on the greens. The Hwange Golf Development committee lauds its talent identification programme and development,” said Njamba.
Simukai, who recently turned professional, is on record as saying they want to spread the game of golf to tertiary institutions.
“We expect these youngsters to represent the region as professionals in the future. My committee will continue to engage various educational institutions as part of measures to promote golf in this part of the country,” said Simukai.
Parents on the other hand have been slow in encouraging their children to the sport. Concerns around security and financial obligations have popped up.
“Girls face the difficulty of their parents not being open to the idea of playing golf. The sport involves a lot of travelling. I know parents always have security concerns over their girls but there’s really no need to worry since teachers are always there to act in loco-parentis,” said Njamba.
The future is bright with monthly Matabeleland Junior League tournaments. This is where they accumulate points on the Order of Merit table.
The golfers selected then represent the province at national level.
Golf is an expensive sport to pursue so financial support has always played an important role, especially in Zimbabwe where funding from big companies and government is a bare minimum.
Junior golf in Hwange seeks to change that perception and bring the sport closer to previously disadvantaged communities.
derick.khumalo