Chronicle Editor
Sports Writer
IT is Christmas Day and last week it was an emotional Friday for former Sables right-centre Jafet Ndebele and his son, Ryan, as they teed off together at the inaugural Matabeleland Junior Golf Association Parent and Child Tournament at Harry Allen Golf Club in Bulawayo.
Ryan is already a keen golfer under the eye of renowned golfer and development coach, Philip Tshuma who organised the event.
His father, a rugby player of note in his hey days, picked up the sport during his playing days and introduced the sport to his son from a very young age.
And after 18 holes of rare moments, father and son finished 6th in the tournament after carding 64.
Ndebele described the opportunity to hang out with his son on a golf course as both an enlightening personal experience and a plus for the development of the sport in the city.
“I have played with my son before but to play with him in a sort of competitive environment was an out of the world experience. I also feel it was important for the young golfers who were there with their fathers to understand that they have their support,” Ndebele shared.
Ndebele also hailed the timing of the event as it meant most parents were available to spend time with their sons and encouraged corporates to partner with it.
A first in the country, the tournament’s key focus is the development of golf. The tournament rules provided for teams comprising one parent and one child in scrabble format and attracted about 50 participants.
“When we conceptualised this tournament, we wanted the young golfers to understand that their parents support them. We also wanted the parents to become more involved with their children’s development,” tournament organiser Tshuma said.
Tshuma and Ndebele called on more parents to play more golf with their children and to enrol them with qualified coaches.
Other notable fathers who took part in the tournament which was won by Cosmas Munapenyi and son Onalenna Munapenyi after they carded 58 with their children, are ex-Miltonian, Rangarirai Midzi and former Prince Edward schoolboy Mac Magaya.
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