Kenya has named a nine-member team that will participate in the All Africa Junior Team Championship (AAJTC) 2024 in April in South Africa.
The four-day championship (April 23–26) will be held at the Benoni Country Club (near OR Tambo International Airport), South Africa.
Kenya is fielding a team of 4 boys, a team of 3 girls, and an additional two reserves (boy and girl).
The boy’s team will include Muthaiga Golf Club’s 17-year-old Krish Beiju Shah, 18-year-old Mathew Wahome (Nyali Golf and Country Club), Kevin Anyien (18 years) from Golf Park Golf Club, and 16-year-old Junaid Manji of Muthaiga Golf Club.
Ishaan Samani of Vetlab Sports Club will be in boys’ reserve player.
In the girl’s team, 17-year-old Chanelle Wangari of Vetlab Sports Club, 15-year-old Bianca Ngecu of Muthaiga Golf Club and 14-year-old Audrey Gachora of Muthaiga Golf Club will represent team Kenya.
Belinda Wanjiru of Vetlab Sports Club will be the girls’ reserve player.
The team is coached by John Van Liefland and C.J. Wangai.
The four boys and three girls were selected from the provisional squad which consisted of 12 boys and 8 girls based on their ranking in the JGF Order of Merit (OOM).
The provisional squad has been in camp, training every Tuesday and Thursday from 4.30 pm – 6.30 pm at the Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club.
The team has also held course practice on Sundays at different golf courses around Nairobi; Muthaiga, Karen, Royal Nairobi, Sigona, Thika Greens, Vet Lab and Limuru.
The golf training has also included mental coaching and nutrition conducted by psychologist Kanyali Ilako and nutritionist Betty Okere respectively.
The team will travel on April 19 for further training and acclimatization in South Africa.
On the trip to South Africa, they will be accompanied by Team Manager Vincent Mukiri, who is also the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Trustee- Convenor Competitions and Golf Development Committee.
The heads of delegation will be JGF President Regina Gachora and Golf Kenya President Philip Ochola.
Team manager, Vincent Mukiri said he is confident that of better results in South Africa because they started training earlier compared to last year.
“This year’s training started earlier compared to last year, which was done over one month due to the recommendations we made from the experience in Uganda,” said Mukiri.
The JGF Board accepted the request for the team to start training early, and they are working towards having the elite squad training continuously throughout the year.
“This year, we expect to finish first or second and qualify for the 2024 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup,” said Mukiri.
Junior Golf Foundation President, Regina Gachora, said she believes Kenya is better placed to win in South Africa.
“Our focus as Junior Golf Foundation remains Golf Development, and I would like to thank all the parents, juniors, coaches and our sponsors who have made this journey possible,” he said.
President of Golf Kenya, Philip Ochola, he was happy with the progress made so far.
He said the future of Golf in Kenya, as they transition to One Golf Strategy as advised by R&A, is to work together with JGF to ensure that Kenya is a powerhouse in golf across the region, Africa and in the World.
“I would like to thank the government for the massive support we are getting through the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports. Our title sponsor NCBA Bank and other partners, Kenya Airways and Isuzu, have been great pillars in supporting Junior Golf in Kenya. For sure we wouldn’t have come this far without them,” said Ochola.