Nine picked to carry flag

By William Muwonge NATIONAL champion Deo Akope and 16-year-old Denis Anguyo are on a nine-man Ugandan team that has been picked for the East African Challenge Cup. Captain John Waigo named his team yesterday, and said he was optimistic they would go on ahead to win the title for the first time on home course. Kitante course is venue for the 54-hole competition starting on Sunday. Other players are Ezra Bunyenyezi, Stephen Kasaija, Charles Yokwe, George Kituku, Gad Musasizi and George Olayo. Akope, Kasaija, Yokwe and Kituku are back on the team having travelled for last year’s event held in Nairobi, Kenya. “I have a lot of hope in this team, it is prepared for the big task,” said Waigo, a handicap 7 UGC veteran. Kenya — the only country to have won the event— and Tanzania will join the hosts at the tournament held for the first time in the country. Uganda came second last year, moving a step from last position in the event launched in 1999. Veteran golfer Waigo trimmed the team from a squad of 15 players. The new team will train at Kitante from tomorrow. Kenya arrives in Kampala tomorrow ahead of Tanzania on Friday. The flag raising ceremony is set for Saturday. Uganda Golf Union (UGU) secretary Nick Okwir, said all teams will have their last practice round on the course the same day. Ends