ABSA BANKS ON KENYA OPEN GOLF TO A TUNE OF SH 70M
Left to Right PS Sports PS Jonathan Mueke, KOGL Chairman Peter Kanyago, Sport CS Ababu Namwamba as Absa Bank Interim MD Yusuf Omari signs off the dummy cheque
By DANIELLA APIYO AND AMANDA DAMARIS
The 54th edition of the Magical Kenya Open tournament on Monday received a major boost with the tourney that is set for March 9 tee-off at the Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi, landing a sponsorship package of Sh70 million from title sponsors Absa Bank.
Absa has committed a whopping Ksh 70m for the tournament that is part of
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba who graced the official launch of the event that is set to be part of the DP Tour (formerly European Tour), noted the importance of the annual golf event, promising government resources in support for its success.
“The Magical Kenya Open comes after we successfully hosted the Ladies event in Vipingo. This tournament is indeed a confirmation that Kenya is the home of golfing tournaments. Kenya Golf Limited has continued to create a good environment for our players both pros and amateurs in order to participate in this event. As a government we will continue to support the tournament to its success,” said Namwamba.
Absa Bank Chief Executive Officer Yusuf Omari said as a corporate they are proud to partner with Kenya Golf Limited for the 13th year articulating their success story for the previous 12-year engagements.
“For us, the MKO presents another unique opportunity to showcase the tenacity and effort of great golfers across the world, including the resilience of our local golfers. Over the last 12 years, we have played our role, not only in the growth and elevation of the Kenya Open to world-class standards but also in demystifying golf as a sport that is loved, appreciated and celebrated by Kenyans from different walks of life and not just the elite.”
A total of 156 local and international golfers are set to compete in this year’s event from 9-12th March.
Kenya will be represented by eight local professionals and six local amateur golfers.
The pro golfers include Jastas Madoya, Daniel Nduva, Mike Kisia, Mutahi Kibugu, Simon Ngige, Dismas Indiza, Samuel Njoroge and Greg Snow.
Zimbabwe’s professional duo of Robson Chinhoi and Nyasha Muyambo have also received an invitation to participate in the big money three-day event.
Organisers of the event are targeting more than 15,000 spectators with over 500m people globally set to be reached through television viewership.
China’s Ashun Wu won last year’s title and bagged Sh 37m.