Uganda golfers promise to shine at the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup

A four-man team led by Coach Flavia Namakula has been advised to enjoy the experience of playing at the world cup, before they left for the annual championship due, June 20-25, in Japan.

The team comprising Joseph Akena (captain), Juma Abiti, Ibrahim Ssemakula, and Collins Matovu left for the championship to be played at the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course, Fukada, Hoyucho, Toyota City, on Wednesday. Matovu replaces Abdu Kakeeto whose travel documents could not be processed in time.

The team was flagged off to the event by National Council of Sports NCS Administrative Secretary-Technical Sarah Chelangat who was in the company of Uganda Golf Union president Moses Matsiko and UGU vice president Jackson Were.

NCS Administrative Secretary-Technical Sarah Chelangat (left) and UGU president Moses Matsiko (2nd left) pose with the national Junior Golf Team before they left for Japan, June 14, 2023. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

The team qualified for the event for the second time after finishing second in the All-Africa Junior Golf Team Championship that was held at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort in April. They will represent the continent alongside South Africa which won the Africa event in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.

“Apart from winning they should go out there and enjoy the experience. We are taking a team that we are confident will produce good results,” Matsiko said.

Chelangat commended the team for their hard work, commitment, and discipline and thanked them for hoisting the Ugandan flag high on the African continent.

“We have confidence in you, don’t be intimidated, go in with your self-esteem, ready to win. We shall continue supporting you and I thank UGU for their commitment toward the development of the sport in the country,” Chelangat stated.

Namakula said the team had prepared well having gone through the R&A-sponsored Africa high-performance program who took the juniors through different aspects of the game; the swing analysis, the short game, and the mental part of the game before they headed to Serena to execute the practical bit of it.

“I believe they are ready, and the exposure Akena and Abiti got from the Regional IV championship in Ethiopia where Uganda finished second, will also be crucial and produce good results,” Namakula said.

“We will try to control what we can and be good ambassadors of Uganda and Africa at large,” Namakula stated.

Jackson Were, the UGU vice president, said he was optimistic about good results based on the results the team has been posting. “We are very optimistic that they will put up a good show and make good friends while in Japan. He thanked the NCS for the continued support towards the development of the sport.

The players were also upbeat about their participation in the event and promised to put out their best.

“My travel to Ethiopia recently helped me a lot because I was able to get a few tips from there, so I intend to put that in practice while in Japan by playing on regulation since I’m putting well and I’m confident,” Juma Abiti said.

Matovu who is making his debut on the team was also confident of returning good results for the team, just like Ssemakula who promised to manage the situation in Japan.

“We have practiced well and following the R&A training I’m a different golfer and we are going to make it,” Ssemakula noted.

Team captain Akena said they had greatly improved their mindset and the mental aspect of the game and hope to apply what the coaches have taught them to excel.