Female duo to represent Zimbabwe at world golf finals in Spain

HARARE-based golfers Nothando Namuinesu and Litchel Mandiveyi have secured their place at the 2024 International Pairs Golf Tournament World Finals in Tenerife, Spain. The talented duo, who are both informal businesswomen, will represent Zimbabwe at the prestigious event next month.

Originally taking up golf as a leisure activity, Namuinesu and Mandiveyi defied expectations by winning a thrilling playoff to earn their spot on the Zimbabwean team.

More than 120 amateur golfers from across the country participated in the tournament, which was sponsored by Sterling Group of Hotels in partnership with Albatross Golf Safaris and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).

The sporting event is one of the activities aimed at drumming up the brand Zimbabwe campaign and complementing the Vision 2030 drive, where sports tourism is one of the key vehicles.

The tournament seeks to promote sportsmanship, talent, and tourism within Zimbabwe by offering amateur golfers the chance to compete on a world stage. It was open to golfers from 90 percent of Zimbabwe’s clubs, making it the largest pairs’ tournament in the world.

Over 30 qualifying events were played across the country, with a total of 1,385 golfers taking part, drawn mostly from social and recreational golfers who make up 95 percent of the total golfing population in Zimbabwe.

Namuinesu and Mandiveyi’s road to Spain started a few days before the qualifying provincial tournament early this month.

The two started playing golf not so long ago and are members of Harare Royal Golf Club. They only became partners the week before the qualifying tournament for the Sterling Pairs Tournament and played together twice as a pair.

“I started playing golf in May last year. I had a friend who plays golf and she would invite me to her sessions, and that is how I developed an interest.

One day there was a corporate tournament at ZRP in Harare, and we just started talking because we both did not have partners. It was after that that we decided to partner for the Pairs Tournament,” said Namuinesu.
She said she was full of excitement to have won the ticket to represent her country.

“We had to go for play-offs because there were two pairs with the same points. I was nervous the night before the final tee-off, but we told ourselves we had to do it. I feel good and excited. I am practising because I want to play better,” said Namuinesu.

She said she grew up playing hockey and swimming, especially in primary school, and had never played golf.
The two women, both in their 30s, have become a real tag team as they have started training together at Harare Royal Golf Club.

Mandiveyi said she started playing golf during the Covid-19 era when it was the only available sport because of the lockdown.

“I wasn’t serious about playing golf, and I would occasionally play and then take a long break. I would play because that was the only sport that was available, but I realised I was good. I am not a pro, but I love the sport and I play a lot of tournaments, maybe two to three times a week,” said Mandiveyi.

She played a number of provincial tournaments and last year represented Zimbabwe Ladies Golf at the A and B Triangular Series in Botswana, where her team won silver.

Mandiveyi said her golf partnership with Namuinesu was a coincidence. “Our pairing was by coincidence. We both didn’t have partners, and we started talking about the tournament when we just casually agreed to pair with each other. We became partners within a week before the qualifying tournament and only played once as a pair before the finals in Victoria Falls but complemented each other on the course.

“Our goal was to play at the finals in Victoria Falls, and we knew there were other good players. So we qualified and went to Victoria Falls. When you play, you want to play well, so we got 46 points, and there was a tie which led to play-offs. We played two holes on Saturday and finished on Sunday when we won. It was exciting but nerve-wracking, but we played well and won with a birdie.

“I want to represent my country and women in golf. There are not many of us playing the sport worldwide, hence we want to showcase our talent and inspire other young women. We just want to conscientise the world that as black women, we can do it and that we have quality golf courses in Zimbabwe and Africa,” she said.

Mandiveyi said this was an opportunity to market Zimbabwe to the world as a safe destination with friendly people.

“We will be marketing our country, telling the world that we have one of the Seven Wonders of the World and the Big 5. This is really an opportunity to showcase brand Zimbabwe to the world, and we want to bring the good out of Zimbabwe.”

The two women have started practising together, something they didn’t do before, as they prepare for Tenerife. Zimbabwe golf national team coach Simon Murungweni is helping the duo with training. Mandiveyi called for all stakeholders to invest time, resources, and love for the sport to make the Pairs Tournament bigger and expose more people to it. – @ncubeleon.