admin
THE John Landa Nkomo Memorial golf tournament held at Harry Allen Golf Club in Bulawayo last Saturday surpassed expectations with a good response from the golfers.
Held as part of the fund-raising initiatives for the recently launched John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust, which was launched the day before, the event attracted 81 golfers. There were four professional golfers from Bulawayo, namely, Richard Kasawaya, Peter Banda, Brian Gondo and Philip Tshuma. These were joined by 69 social golfers and 12 juniors from Bulawayo, Harare, Gweru and Hwange.
Jabulani Nkomo, the son of the late Vice-President said the level of competitiveness displayed by the enthusiastic golfers was very encouraging.
“The response for the golf tournament was overwhelming, it exceeded expectations. We had a field of 81, made up of four professionals, 69 social and corporate golfers as well as 12 juniors. We had ardent golfers who exhibited a high level of competitive spirit,’’ said Nkomo.
According to Nkomo, the objectives of the golf tournament were to raise funds, create a corporate interaction, to advertise the Trust’s existence and also support the sport at grassroot level through the inclusion of junior golfers, which he felt was achieved.
“We were successful in all our objectives. We got a decent field of golfers, we had the corporate sector who got to know what the Trust is all about and above all we raised funds,’’ Nkomo said.
Gondo was the best professional player while among the juniors Rodney Sibanda was the top player.
Team Steward Bank made up of Bishop Mhlanga the team captain, Mgcini Moyo, Richard Ndou and Maxwell Mpofu were the winners of the tournament after amassing a massive 121 points. The four got a trophy and prizes of their own choice. In second place was Team Astra Building Centre of Nyararai Sibanda, Jabulani Nkomo, Sexton Mpofu and Mike Gansford with 120 points while in third place was a team bankrolled by Supreme Furnishers with 118 points.
Senior Minister of State in the Office of the President and Cabinet Simon Khaya Moyo who is also the Patron of the Trust, was the guest of honour at the awards ceremony where he presented an assortment of prizes to the most outstanding golfers.
Both the golf tournament and fund-raising dinner raised a combined gross total of $13 500 with pledges being made.
Nkomo said the fund-raising dinner and golf tournament were meant to raise funds for the various projects started by the late Vice-President Nkomo with the main priority for now being the John Landa Nkomo High School in Tsholotsho which is in dire need of assistance.
With the huge turnout for the fund-raising dinner and the golf event, the John Landa Nkomo Trust has decided to hold the two on an annual basis. The golf competition has been slated for 22 August 2015 with the dinner a night before.
Khaya Moyo summed it all up when he said the golf tournament was in line with the spirit and character of the late Vice-President, a man who stood for peace. He pledged to support the Trust with all the energy at his disposal.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter