Uganda lifts Victoria Cup after dominant display in Naivasha

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Uganda's national golf team members are over the moon after winning the seventh edition of the Victoria Cup, played at the Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort in Naivasha.

Uganda beat Kenya by three and a half points (14.5-11.5) to win the event for the second time since they last claimed victory in Kampala in 2019.

The tournament started in 2016, with Kenya winning the first three editions. Uganda then won the tournament on home soil, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2020 and 2021 editions. By last year, Kenya led the series 5-1 in the annual bi-national championship.

Fielding a relatively young squad, Uganda started strongly and was never to be denied this time after taking a one-point lead on the first day of action on Thursday.

Uganda stood out in the four-ball better-ball format, earning 3.5 points while allowing only 0.5 points. The pairs of Abdallah Kakooza/Titus Okwong, Joseph Cwinyaai/Abdu Kakeeto, and Elton Thembo/Ibrahim Ssemakula won their matches against Josphat Rono/Raphael Leminga’ni, Elvis Muigua/Kevin Anyien, and Tsevi Soni/Krish Shah Beiju, with scores of 3&1, 2&1, and 3&2, respectively.

John Musiimenta and Reagan Akena halved their match against John Lejrima/Daniel Kiragu before Kenya recovered to win 3-1 in the foursomes after switching their pairings.

In the foursomes, Muigua/Shah defeated Kakooza/Anthony Otukei, 3&2, while Kiragu/Rono beat Musiimenta/Kakeeto, 5&3, and Leminga’ni/Ebill Omollo won against Cwinyaai/Ssemakula, 2&1. Only the Joseph Akena/Peter Mayende partnership managed a massive 7&6 win against Lejrima/Elly Barno.

On Friday, Uganda upped their game, winning 4-0 in the foursomes and splitting the four-ball matches 2-2 with their opponents, leaving them 5.5 points ahead going into the final singles round on Saturday.

Needing only three points in the last ten singles matches, the Ugandans went even further, picking up four to seal the championship on foreign soil.

However, the Ugandans had to wait, as they lost the first four matches. Kakooza, Anthony Otukei, Ibrahim Ssemakula, and Abdu Kakeeto lost to Shah Beiju, Elvis Muigua, Lejrima, and Daniel Kiragu, with scores of 2up, 2&1, 8&7, and 5&4, respectively.

Joseph Akena halved his match against Ebilli Omollo, while Titus Okwong beat Tsevi Sono 5&4. John Musiimenta stopped Josphat Rono, 3&2, while Cwinyaai’s half-point against Kevin Anyien and Elton Thembo’s victory over Elly Barno ensured Uganda won its second trophy despite losing the singles round 6-4.

"It feels great to win it away from home. The strategy was just to play regulation on all holes and not to give away an early lead to the opponents," Cwinyaai said.

"The boys were great, and I’m so proud of them all. It is the greatest and youngest team that I have ever led and the youngest team Uganda has ever fielded in an international competition.

Kudos to the Uganda Golf Union for the work they are doing in nurturing young talent, and trust me, the game of golf in Uganda has a bright future," Cwinyaai noted.

Team coach Flavia Namakula was also ecstatic, praising her team for the collective effort and teamwork they exhibited.

"It feels great. I'm very proud of the boys. Their commitment, resilience, and unwavering belief in each other were incredible, and that's how we managed to bring this victory," Namakula noted.

"Getting here early helped us as well. The weather was not that favourable. It's a very cold place, and it rains almost every day. But we managed to pull it off. The performance was incredible, and we deserved the win," Namakula stated.