Senator John Nanzip Shagaya @ 75
Making the case for Presidents Cup captains’ picks
Last Saturday, the Sallah party was just spilling over. A day before that day, the nation’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, just thumped Cameroun four goals to nil in such monumental World Cup qualifying round. The sweet Saturday was still not over. It was on that same day Senator [General] John Nanzip Shagaya turned 75 years of age.
Naturally, moving into his Karu sprawling abode on that day, I was having this feeling there could be a massive party that could dent the roof-tops. Nothing of such happened. When I showed up, save for few birthday card carrying folks, the vast mansion was quiet. I was bewildered and the General saw this. But offering that gentle smile he is famous for, he mentioned that nobody would expect a party given the fact that he recently lost a beloved wife. That was a perfect excuse.
I moved with the General to one of the sitting rooms and we dwelled on small talks, especially one bordering on the success of the Daily Trust Golf Icons Open that played out at the Lamingo Golf Club in Jos. The General was present in that event and he even offered a speech on how Icons of the game had impacted on golf in past years. He sincerely The race for spots on the 2017 Presidents Cup teams began so long ago that the 2015 Presidents Cup still had yet to be played. In reality, it has been going on in earnest since March, when increases in FedEx Cup points - for the U.S. team - and world ranking points - for the International squad - kicked in at the World Golf Championship events and major championships.
Now that the 10 automatic spots are settled for the United States and International teams with the conclusion of the Dell Technologies Championship, the difficult task of naming the two atlarge picks for respective captains Steve Stricker and Nick Price awaits Wednesday.
Then again, it might not be so difficult at all.
Both captains have some mentioned that he was thrilled that those who laboured so the game of golf could be well celebrated in Nigeria were honored with such elaborate tournament. He moved ahead to commend the Plateau State clear-cut choices in front of them, somewhat thanks to the fact that those vying for the last spots or looking to impress at the last minute did little to cause pause for either man.
Ten players automatically qualified on Monday for the International Presidents Cup team, including major champions Jason Day, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen.
Stricker’s task becomes much more difficult if for some reason he wants to be the captain who breaks Phil Mickelson’s streak of playing on every U.S. Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup team going back to 1994.
During all of that time, Mickelson needed a captain’s pick only twice - at the first President’s Cup in 1994 and Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong for hosting such auspicious event. This is the real Shagaya. The game of golf and its development run deep in his veins.
They all say it with pride two years ago when the United States won in South Korea. And in 2015, Mickelson was further back in the points race than he is now and went 3-0-1.
With a tie for sixth at the Dell Technologies, Mickelson finally showed some form and is 15th in the standings. He is all but certain to be picked.
You can argue that the four players ahead of Mickelson - Charley Hoffman, Brian Harman, Jason Dufner and Gary Woodland - are more deserving based on performance.
Then again, these picks are not always about that. Mickelson, 47, is a big part of the behind-the-scenes Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup dynamic that he helped change in 2014.
And he will be part of it that membership at the IBB Golf Club in Nigeria is approaching some 7000 members. What most Nigerians don’t know is that without Shagaya, that club could not have been in existence in the first place. Shagaya did not just help build the IBB Club, he equally dropped sweat to help position both Amateur and Professional golf in Nigeria. He equally served as President of the Nigeria Golf Federation after he had given a certain teeth to the Golf Union of Nigeria. Yes, the big man just turned 75 and his story till date remains evergreen. Have a peep into his life.
General Shagaya was certainly one of Nigeria’s best and brightest Military strategists and warriors. He was respected for his gallantry and bravery both locally and internationally. He was a war tested soldier who served under, and won the respect of great warriors such as General Benjamin Adekunle. He loved soldiering and was passionate about the unity of his country. He was prepared to lay down his life for his profession and country.
Happy Birthday, General. Like the Yorubas will say, … ‘Igba odun, odun kan ni’. In essence, this means your years are just beginning. next year, too, in some form. Given the overlap now - 2018 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk is a Presidents Cup assistant this year; Tiger Woods, also part of the Ryder Cup Committee along with Mickelson, is also an assistant, as he was at the Ryder Cup - you can see how Stricker might make room for the five-time major winner whose Presidents Cup record is 23-16-12 overall.
And don’t forget the commercial aspect. The Presidents Cup is not the Ryder Cup, and a pick based on popularity can’t be dismissed. Neither can the fact that Mickelson is hugely popular in New York - the Sept. 28-Oct. 1 matches are being played at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey.