Uganda eyes first ever Victoria Cup title

Jun 28, 2019

Since the tournament's inception in 2016, Kenya has won all the three editions.

GOLF

The Ugandan national golf teams hope to build on their Africa Region IV Golf Tournament win in Burundi to claim their first ever Victoria Cup triumph, when the fourth edition of the championship tees off at the Uganda Golf Club on July 4.

A team of ten golfers are currently undergoing preparations for the four-day championship at the Uganda Golf Club. They are; Joseph Cwinya-ai, Joel Basalaine, Daniel Baguma, Rodell Gaita, Godfrey Nsubuga, Denis Asaba, Ashraf Bagalana, Hussein Alemiga, Michael Alunga, Grace Kasango and Bruhan Matovu.

Since the Victoria Cup's inception in 2016, Kenya has won all three editions, in the two-nation tournament that is akin to the Ryder Cup, between teams from the US and Europe.

Last year, Kenya registered one of the biggest wins over Uganda as they completed a hat-trick of wins at the Vetlab Golf Club in Nairobi. The hosts garnered 19.5 points to Uganda's 6.5 over three days of action in five rounds, to claim the cup for the third successive time following earlier victories at Muthaiga and  Entebbe Golf Clubs in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

On Thursday, at the Uganda Golf Club, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) managing director Edgar Byamah unveiled a sh100m sponsorship to the Uganda Golf Union (UGU) towards the annual tournament.

"It Is a pleasure for us to partner with the UGU largely because we are a regional bank and this event brings together teams from two of our key countries and therefore we felt it worthwhile to support this event and the game of golf," he said.

"We hope we will bring a dash of good luck to team Uganda; we hope and pray that they will keep the trophy here, so that we can make this partnership enduring and so that we can continue growing this sport."

UGU president Innocent Kihika said: "We are grateful to our sponsors who have put in a great effort to make this event a success. They are going to dress all golfers in the event and contribute to all logistics of the event."

"We are happy to be hosting this year's edition and we are excited and hope that this year Uganda will win it. Our boys are breathing fire and we hope with this fantastic sponsorship, we hope we shall be able to win it,"

Uganda's team manager Moses Matsiko said the team is ready to put on great show.

"We have prepared a team and know what to do. They are coming home, the team is ready, I believe with the preparations we have had, we should be able to keep the trophy here," he said.

"At the moment, we are fine-tuning and this might be the time to turn around that history. Through this kind of competition, the game is upped, the skill level goes up and we benefit as a country and the golf fraternity."

Anthony Agaba, who represented the captain of UGU, said the club is ready for the competition and the course is in great shape to host the tournament.


KEY DAYS

KCB Victoria Cup (UGC) July 2-6

Tuesday: Kenya arrives

Wednesday: Official Practice Round and Flag Raising Ceremony

Thursday: Four-ball-better-ball & Foursomes

Friday: Four-ball-better-ball & Foursomes

Saturday: Singles (ten games) & Subsidiary events


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