Golf: Uganda’s junior team to savour World Cup experience 

The teams competing are formidable and the stage appears frightening for Uganda’s national team of U-20 golfers.

There are 12 teams competing in the boys’ category and they include powerhouses like Africa’s best side South Africa, England, USA, Germany and hosts Japan. But the message from coach Flavia Namakula to her team is to go out and enjoy the experience of competing at Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course.

The four boys representing Uganda at the Toyota Junior World Cup are Reagan Akena, Juma Abiti, Collin Matovu and Ibrahim Ssemakula. Supporting the team in Tokyo is a team of officials that includes Uganda Golf Union president Moses Matsiko, vice president Jackson Were and the Union’s Committee member Sam Kacungira.

The tournament teed off yesterday in Tokyo and rolls into the second day today.

“I have urged the boys to be calm, and not try to be overwhelmed by being here,” coach Namakula told The Observer.
“I want them to play their normal and treat this competition like any other because that is the only way they can play good golf.

“Realistically speaking, we are not going to win this tournament as Uganda but we can leave this place as better golfers, and that can only augur well for the future of Ugandan golf.”

The tournament is a 72-stroke play competition involving players who must be 18 years and under, and not be attending college or university.

This will be the second time in history Uganda takes part in the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup. The first was in 2019 and the team featured Michael Alunga, Denis Asaba, Joel Basalaine and Ibrahim Aliga.

Union boss Matsiko has supreme confidence in the youngsters who are representing Uganda in Tokyo.

“The team chosen by the coach is the best we could have put out here and we believe they have gone some way in acclimatising to the conditions.

“Events like these can only leave our golf in Uganda in a better place because they are learning experiences across all levels – for the players, coaches, members of the union and the game at large,” Matsiko noted.

He expressed appreciation to the National Council of Sports who have shouldered the budget of the Under-20 national team golfers in Japan.

Meanwhile, the girls’ competition will be a battle involving eight countries. They are Spain, South Africa, Japan, South Korea, USA, Colombia, New Zealand and Canada.