MUTIYA OUT, MOORE IN
….as Zanaco invest K600, 000 in Zanaco Zambia Masters
THE Lusaka Golf Club will today come back to life when over 300 golfers take to the golf course to compete for the prestigious Zanaco Zambia Masters.
Unfortunately, Zambia’s professional golfer Madalitso Mutiya will not compete in this year’s tournament which has returned after it failed to tee off last year due to Covid-19 and has attracted over 60 professional and amateur golfers who will battle it out for the K200, 000 prize money.
Zanaco Zambia Masters organising committee chairman Roy Penney confirmed in an interview that Mutiya would not compete as he is taking part in the ongoing Sunshine Tour Invitation Golf Championship in South Africa.
Penney named Chilanga Golf Club professional golfer Patrcik Mwendapole, Chibuluma Golf Club pro Mwalikwa Sondashi and Ndola Golf Club’s pro Dayne Moore among the professional local golfers who will battle it out for the prize money.
Other prominent golfers set to compete in today’s championship include Sydney Wemba, Des Ngandu, Rhoda Duthie representing Lusaka Golf Club and Mukuka Mwango fron Nkana Golf Club.
Penney indicated in an earlier interview that this year’s event was different as it was aimed at identifying the next Patson Daka of golf.
“We have localised the whole tournament which will be divided into junior professionals and senior professionals and the corporate championship.
“The idea is to promote the growth of golf in Zambia and to find the Patson Daka of golf. That is what we want to do. We want to highlight the fact that there is talent here,” Penney said.
Meanwhile, Zanaco Bank PLC has pumped K600, 000 in this year's Zanaco Zambia Masters tournament which has returned after failing to tee off last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
And Zanaco Bank Chief Executive Officer Mukwandi Chibesakunda said this year's tournament is dubbed Zanaco Zambian Masters under the theme local bank supporting local sport.
Speaking after unveiling the sponsorship package, Chibesakunda said this year's tournament will recognise the caddies which teed off yesterday.
"The tournament is expected to host 343 golfers over the four days with 25 professionals, 58 amateurs and 50 caddies,"
"Every year for the last three years Zanaco has been injecting K200, 000 into this tournament and the accumulated spending is K600, 000 in just the tournament itself,” Chibesakunda said.
Chibesakunda added that the bank will continue to support local sports through tournaments such as the Zanaco Masters.