KGU chairman Francis Okwara (left) address members of the press as Fr Dominic Wamugunda of Golf Talent Foundation looks on at Muthaiga Golf Club today.

By KGG CORRESPONDENT

KENYA Golf Union (KGU) has today justified their mode of selecting the national team to represent the country at this year’s Africa Zone VI Championship at the Denonvale Golf Club in South Africa from Monday and exuded confidence of the players picked ahead of their departure.

KGU chairman Francis Okwara who was speaking during the launch of the Golf Talent Foundation (GTF) strategic plan at the Muthaiga Golf Club, said given that golf was now considered as an olympic sport, they had resorted to use qualifying events to pick the national teams instead of individual performances at the Golfer Of The Year (GOTY) tournaments like in the past.

The selection of the national team attracted a heated debate on different forums, owing to the fact that the defending GOTY winner and current GOTY leader both who are considered as the finest amateurs in the country, missed the national team.

“We have been using the Goty as our selection criteria, but since since is now an Olympic sport we now have to go for qualifying events to pick the national teams as required by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and this will be used in picking the national teams for all major future events,” said Okwara.

He added: “We invited the top 10 players for the qualifiers and everyone agreed to play the 54-hole competition and we made our selection from the performance at the specific event.”

Meanwhile, GTF today launched a strategic plan that is geared towards taking the level of the sport to a new level.

The foundation seek to promote and develop existing talented golf players to a higher level and developing them into national team members and beyond and to search for existing talent within the golf fraternity in the country.

“GTF is a subsidiary of the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) and the foundation trustees are in agreement that there is untapped potential of young men and women in the country who if nurtured well can become great golfers who can position our country in the world map in as far as the sport is concerned,” said Okwara.

He added: “Today marks an improtant milestone one that will define the running of this foundation for the next five years by launching a five-year strategic plan. The plan is a summation of our ambitions and a declaration of our belief in ourselves as a team to achieve the goals we have set out.”

The plan has four main segments that include vision statement, mission statement, philosophy and statement of core values which is subdivided into integrity, inclusivity, talented-golfer wellbeing and stewardship.

Speaking on behalf of the trustees, Dominic Wamugunda said a series of performance targets had been developed to support the four main aims and objectives of the strategic plan.

“These are top level targets and are underpinned in the sections which follow, as well as in the annual plans which will support this strategic plan,” said Wamugunda.

He added: “It should also be noted that the overall aim of GTF is to identify talented young Kenyans who will be provided with life-skill assistance and playing opportunities in order to produce successful, well-rounded golfers who win every event they enter.”

The foundation plans that by 2017, at least 10 players in top 500, five in top 100 and two in top 50 in the men and women world amateur golf rankings. They also plan to have at least five of their players in the top 10 of the Golfer Of The Year competition and at least two players in the top 10 finishes in the Kenya Open Golf Championship by 2017. cheap air max 95 cheap air max 95

Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario (centre) hands over the national flag to Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Francis Okwara at his offices today.

By CORRESPONDENT

The Kenya National Golf Team to Zone VI, this afternoon received the national flag from Cabinet secretary in charge of Sports, Culture & Arts  Dr. Hassan Wario at a function held in his office.

The CS wished the team well and acknowledged the work done by Kenya Golf Union in promoting the Sport. He further noted the efforts made by the Union in demystifying the game and promised to convene a meeting soon where the issue of Kasarani Public golf Course will be addressed.

The CS noted that his Ministry is working on establishing sports lottery that will go a long way in supporting sports in the Country. Already there is a team working on laying a platform for the same. He said that sports federations will benefit immensely through the Sports Act and noted that with the recent appointment of Sports Registrar all sports federations needs to register by 2^nd of August 2014.

On his part the Chairman of Kenya Golf Union, Mr. Francis Okwara thanked the CS for affording time to meet the team. The Chairman spelt out the progress made by the Union in aligning the activities of the Union to the Sports Act. The KGU boss noted that the selection of the National Team was done in line with the recommendations of NOC- Kenya where all players representing the country in whichever discipline must have a qualifying event.

The Chairman of the Union exuded confidence with the team selected and noted that it is a combination of juniors and seniors.

The team leaves for South Africa on 13^th April 2014 and will be participating in Africa Zone VI Championship in Devonvale Golf and Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, Boland, Cape Province.

The National Team to AFRICA ZONE VI 2014 will be led by Head of Delegation Mr. Francis Okwara- Chairman, Mr. Peter Warui -Tournament Director, Andrew Chelogoi (Team Manager) and will be accompanied by the team coach Mr. Anil Shah ;-

It will consist of the following:

1.       Mr. Nelson Simwa- Vet Lab

2.       Mr. Justus Madoya – GRV

3.       Mr. Tony Omuli- Golf Park

4.       Mr. Erick Ooko- Royal

5.       Mr. Mohit Mediratta ( South Africa based)- Sigona

6.       Mr. Daniel Nduva ( Nyali- Junior)

7.       Mr. Mathew Wahome- (Nyali- Junior)

8.       Mr. Adel Balala- (South Africa based & Nyali- Junior) nike air max junior nike air max junior