The legendary runner turned golfer Moses Tanui donated Victoria Cup last year to spice up golf in East Africa Region.
With Kenyan golfers dominating the annual tournament, Tanui, the current Eldoret Golf club captain decided to donate the cup to expose Kenyan golfers so that one day they can play at the Professional Golf Association (PGA).
“As a person, my aim is to nurture talents across the country and donating a trophy is part of my duty to ensure that golfers are exposed especially juniors who holds the future of this country,” said Tanui in Eldoret.
Following the win, Kenyan team had to present the trophy to Tanui at Eldoret Golf Club on Sunday.
But Nandwa’s speech was amusing. He was quoted in Daily Monitor’s newspaper saying.
“It is my plessure to give a speech on how we’ve won, not lost. We had no reason to leave the trophy donated by our own behind. We shall show it to him,” said Nandwa as reported Daily Monitor which they did on Sunday.
A team of ten golfers traveled to Uganda won against Uganda over the weekend and defended the title the country had won last year in Kenya, which was a plus for the golfers at par 71 Entebbe Golf course.
The team consisted of top Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) led by Captain Alfred Nandwa of Railways, John Karichu from Limuru, Mike Kisia from Vet Lab, Samuel Njoroge (Kenya Railways),Edwin Mudanyi (Vet Lab), Royal Club’s Kenneth Bollo, Jeff Kubwa fromMuthaiga, Dennis Saikwa (Royal)top junior golfer, Agil Is Hag of Nyali and Mutahi Kibugu of Muthaiga under coach John Van Liefland.
“I donated the trophy to see golf grow in East Africa. What we really lack in Africa apart from South Africa is serious golf. I will be happy if one day a Kenyan golfer plays at PGA,” added the 1991 10,000m world champion.
Popularly called Mr. Boston in his golfing cycle following his double exploits at the Boston Marathon, also donated the Kenya Junior Golf Union (KJGU) trophy as a way of inspiring future golfers.
The 1995 world half marathon champion, the first man on earth to run the 21km under one hour (59:47) said: “We need to develop golf to a high standard and expose both juniors and experienced golfers.”
Apart from Kenya Golf Union (KGU) selecting the best team to Uganda, the 1993 world championships 10,000m silver medalist admitted that Ugandans are tough but head coach Liefland instilled discipline in the team and came home with a win.
“Uganda has a strong team but Kenya’s new coach brought in new dimension in golf. He brought in new skills, treated golfers very well, instilled discipline among others,” he added.