DASANI SPONSORS TANNAHILL FOR THREE YEARS
Coca-Cola General Manager East Africa Peter Njonjo (left) poses for a photo with Royal Nairobi Golf Club’s captain Jack Okuku (centre) and club Chairman Zubin Parikh after a cheque presentation for this year’s Tannahill Shield Golf.
By DONALD WELLINGTON
Leading soft drink manufacturer Coca-Cola through its bottled water brand Dasani will sponsor the 90th edition of Kenya’s most coveted amateur tournament – the Tannahill Shield. This year’s tournament will take place during the Easter weekend starting from the March 29 to April 1 at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club.
Coca-Cola General Manager for East Africa, Peter Njonjo announced his firm’s commitment of a 3-year sponsorship deal up to 2015 to be renewed annually. He spoke when he presented this year’s sponsorship cheque worth Sh2.1 million during a media unveiling at the Royal Golf Club on Ngong Road, Nairobi.
“Dasani is an internationally recognized water brand, the bottled water of choice around the world. It is only natural that Dasani is the water of choice for the Tannahill shield, Kenya’s most recognized amateur golf tournament,” said Njonjo.
“The Tannahill Shield is an exciting tournament and something every golfer looks forward to during Easter. It is highly competitive. In playing Foursomes, it’s not enough to have a lower handicap. Players temperament, compatibility, combativeness and the ability to inspire team mates is vital to win” he added.
In recent years, Dasani has been actively involved in both professional and amateur golf sponsorships and in the development of junior golf. Dasani has been the official water of the Barclays Kenya Open, which is a part of the European Challenge Tour. In addition The Dasani Golf Gala, an annual amateur series that attracts the participation of over 3,000 golfers across 36 clubs in Kenya has run for three years. The decision to participate as the title sponsors of the Tannahill Shield therefore reinforces Coca-Cola’s commitment to the development of golf in Kenya.
The Tannahill Shield, popularly referred to as the Easter Tournament, was inaugurated in February 1924 when the General Committee of the Royal Nairobi Golf Club invited representative teams from Mombasa, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nakuru and Muthaiga to participate. It has grown over the years to become a nine team event.
Royal Nairobi Golf Club (RNGC) has tried to accommodate as many top golfers as possible without weakening the format of the competition by asking golf clubs from Western Kenya to combine in sending a joint team and also requesting Mombasa golf clubs to invite players from Nyali, Diani and Malindi.
In 1996 a relegation clause was included in the conditions of the competition with the aim of attracting greater participation from top amateurs in Kenya. This was applicable to the bottom team (provided that, the team was not R.N.G.C or Mombasa) who would sit out the competition for one year and be re-invited to participate in the following year. This, apart from providing great motivation for the teams, allows R.N.G.C to always invite a new team.
With this rejuvenated title sponsorship, this year’s edition of the tournament promises to be an exciting affair for both players and spectators alike. bracelet pandora charms bracelet pandora charms