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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE Joshua Nkomo Golf Classic was relaunched at Chapman yesterday, four years after the tournament went off the radar.
The event, which used to incorporate professionals, was last held in Victoria Falls where it was sponsored by Econet.
The event is aimed at raising $45 000 which will be channelled to the Joshua Nkomo Museum.
Speaking at the relaunch, Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs Miriam Chikukwa said this was a big day for the tournament.
“I feel greatly honoured to welcome you to the Joshua Nkomo Golf Classic launch,” said Chikukwa.
“The event will be held on 16 July and I am delighted to be part of this occasion where we remember the late hero.
“The sport of golf has continued to grow as it receives a lot of support from various sectors of the business fraternity.
“The event is aimed at raising funds for the Joshua Nkomo National Foundation in Bulawayo. It is vital that we channel our efforts towards the development of golf, which will be an Olympic sport by 2016, by identifying grassroots talent.”
Sports Commission representative, Patience Kabande, commended the Joshua Nkomo Foundation Trustees for using sport as a tool to celebrate the legacy of the late national hero.
“We commend the Joshua Nkomo Foundation Trustees for using sport as a tool to celebrate the legacy of the late hero.
“The golf event is a good platform for both corporate and individuals to showcase talent,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Professional Golfers Association are set to engage another Tour which will help them get tournaments. The professionals have gone for several months without a tournament and had a meeting with former Zambezi Tour Operations Director Cedric Jonker on Tuesday.
Jonker, a former Operations Director for Zambezi Tour, is expected to form another Tour which will help get tournaments for the local professionals.
The professional golfers are expected to have an annual meeting to select a new president and map the way forward for them to get more game time.
Former president Tongo Charamba stepped down. The Zambezi Tour is struggling to get events for the local professionals who only played in the Pre-Open Classic and the Zimbabwe Open so far this year.
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