Oboh, Uwadiae, Pedro tipped to shine at 2020 Olympics

The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) Youth Development Officer, Emy Ekong has tipped some of Nigeria’s rising golf stars to shine at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Speaking in an interview recently, Ekong said that the country has learnt its lessons and has started making moves that will see it in the 2020 Games.

“We have players capable of holding their own against anybody in the world, but they lack the resources to travel to the major championships, which determines the ranking of the stars.

“So, the challenge is in getting the players to feature in more prominent competitions around the world. That is where the corporate bodies and government come in. They need sponsorship to be able to attend these international competitions that count.

“I can tell you that Andrew Oche Odeh, Kingsley Oparaku, Mike Ubi, Sunday Olopade and Oyebanji can hold their own against the best in the world if they get the opportunity,” she said.

The 2020 Olympics is still four years away, but Ekong believes the country has a crop of young players who could also compete positively with the world’s best at the Tokyo Games.

She said: “Our youths are doing extremely well and I can tell you that in Georgia Oboh, Anita Uwadiae, Tokunbo Pedro, Godsmark Isife and Alechenu Odeh, among others, we have boys who will be ready to join the seniors in the next four years.”

She disclosed that Nigeria is currently gearing up for the World Amateur Championship, which holds next month and the Junior Masters scheduled for Las Vegas, U.S. in August.