By Mercy Chewe
Kitwe’s Nkana Golf Club is excited that seven junior golfers at its Academy have been selected to represent Zambia at the All-Africa Junior Golf Challenge tournament in Egypt this month-end.
The boys and girls, drawn mostly from Kitwe’s Kandabwe Township, flew out of the country on Thursday, 24th March 2022 for the prestigious junior team event which will be hosted at the Palm Hills Golf Course in Cairo, Egypt from 28th March to 1st April1, 2022.
The seven Nkana Golf Club Junior Academy players will make the Zambia National Team at the tournament.
They were selected after a two-day 36-Holes Qualifying Rounds Competition held at Nkana Golf Club involving junior players from Lusaka, Chainama, Chilanga, Mazabuka, Ndola, Nchanga and Nkana Golf Clubs.
Nkana’s Leonard Chibwe (16), Gilbert Chalwe (18) Amir Jerson (15) and Michael Chuma (16) emerged first, second, third and fourth, respectively, during the Qualifying Rounds in the boys competition, while Annie Nsama, Gracious Mwenda and Bibian Ngosa all aged 17, were the girls’ first, second and third ranked, respectively
Nkana Golf Club Captain, Noel Simwanza said he was proud of the Junior team that is in Cairo.
“I am so proud of this team because clearly these selected junior golfers are the best at the moment in the country and in their age group. As a Club, we are delighted to have produced an entire National Team and I am certain that the boys and girls will bring us honours from the Championship in Egypt,” Simwanza said.
Mopani Copper Mines PLC established the Junior Golfers Academy at Nkana Golf Club in 2015 to empower young golfers.
The Academy currently has more than 150 kids enrolled from various communities in Kitwe with majority of them coming from Kandabwe Township and more than half of whom are now able to play at a competitive level.
