Uganda golfers tee off at Junior Golf World Cup

Uganda junior golfers take to the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course, Fukada, Hoyucho, Toyota City in Japan as they make their second appearance at the annual championship.

This is the second time that Uganda is competing in the world’s junior golf team championship, which this year has attracted players from England, Germany, South Africa, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, Puerto Rico, Chile and Paraguay.

The team qualified for the event for the second time after finishing second at 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 African event in both the boys’ and girls’ categories.

Uganda first qualified in 2019 when Coach Stephen Kasaija Uganda’s junior team comprising Michael Alunga, Ibrahim Aliga, Joel Basalaine and Denis Asaba made their debut in Nagoya then.

This year Flavia Namakula's charges include Joseph Akena (captain), Juma Abiti, Ibrahim Ssemakula and Collins Matovu, who will take to the course at 9:00 am (Japan time) alongside players from Canada and the USA.

“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 to help 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.

The tournament encourages each team member to play with a patriotic spirit during the competition while providing them with the opportunity to develop international friendships during the event.

In addition to the international competition, the tournament committee's goal is to assist in developing junior golf for the future of this global game.

Japan has for the last 28 editions provided a venue wherein international captains and coaches share information on their junior golf programs with other attending countries to continue to grow the game.