A four-member squad consisting of John Lejirma, Elvis Muigua, Adel Balala, and Krish Beiju will represent Kenya in the upcoming All-Africa Golf Team Championship.
The biennial championship will be held at Bulawayo Golf Club in Zimbabwe, running from Sunday, October 27, to Saturday, November 2, 2024.
The tournament has attracted teams from 15 countries, including Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Morocco, Ghana, Tunisia, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, and Seychelles, among others.
The All Africa Golf Team Championship considered one of the most prestigious amateur team events on the continent, was first played in 2001.
It is endorsed by both the R&A and the Africa Golf Confederation.
Kenya’s team has been training under national coach John van Liefland for the past two months in preparation for the event, according to Kenya Golf Union chairman David Ndung’u.
Ndung’u, who will accompany the team to Zimbabwe, expressed excitement about seeing young talent representing Kenya on such a significant platform.
“Their hard work and commitment have truly paid off, and we have full confidence in their ability to compete at the highest level,” he said.
Earlier this month, Kenya’s national golf team secured victory in the 2024 Africa Region IV Golf Championship, defeating six African nations.
The prestigious three-day, 96-hole tournament was held at Kigali Golf Resort and Villas in Rwanda.
This win marked Kenya’s third consecutive triumph, following victories in 2022 and 2023.
Team Kenya captain John Lejirma told Golf Score Kenya that competing against the top amateurs on the African continent will be a true test of their team’s abilities.
“We are looking forward to our next assignment at the All Africa Golf Team Championship in Zimbabwe. Competing against the top amateurs in the continent will be a true test of our abilities as a team,” he said.
He said in Rwanda, the team was really confident.
“Now we’re heading to Zimbabwe, where we’ll face all the major African teams, like the top-notch South Africans and the Moroccans. Our strategy is to stay composed and focus on playing the course, not the other players,” he said.
Lejirma emphasized their goal of scoring under pars, which he said is crucial for success given the high level of competition.
“Without shooting under pars, it’s tough to win because of how tight the competition is,” he explained.
Elvis Muigua, one of the youngest members of the team at just 20, said the experience in Rwanda was invaluable.
“I was so happy to represent Kenya for the second time at the Region IV Golf Championship. Last year, we won in Ethiopia, and this year we won again in Rwanda. Winning back-to-back feels amazing. I’m looking forward to performing well in Zimbabwe next weekend,” he said.
Muigua expressed confidence that the team will deliver another strong performance in Zimbabwe.