20/12/2022
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Manicaland Golf set to scale dizzy heights
By Trevor Mtisi
Most people have heard that golf is a gentlemen]s game and probably it is the reason why many have stayed away from the it. Golf is a gentlemen’s game because it is played with a sense of social integrity, moral, and camaraderie. One great golfer Phil Mickelson was once quoted saying that the objective of golf is not just to win but to play like a gentleman and win.
Nearly a hundred new coaches underwent a two day training workshop hosted by the Mutare Golf Association at Hillside Sports Club and the newly established Eve Golf Academy in Mutare last Thursday and Friday (15-16 December, 2022), in a move that is aimed at reviving grassroots development of the sport in Manicaland.
The two day event was fully sponsored by the Royal and Ancient, which is the world golf governing board, an equivalent of what FIFA is to football, and the Zimbabwe Golfers Association.
Hosts Manicaland Golf Association provided three highly competent coaches who took the participants through their paces in the event which organisers said was well subscribed. Eve Golf Academy Proprietor and coach Caleb Kunze was ecstatic with the high level participation and couldn’t hide his joy for the future of grassroots golf development in the province. He said, “This is a very high response ever noted in terms of training coaches and we are so happy that all the corners of Manicaland Province were represented at this training workshop. 83 of the participants were teachers who interact with learners directly and this will go a long way in ensuring that grassroots development of golf is achieved in Manicaland.”
A Zimunya based teacher, Wesley Winter Bangano was on cloud nine, thanking organisers for the free training, despite raising fears that it may prove costly to get the golf equipment. Mr Winter said, “ Iam very happy to be afforded this opportunity to train for free. This is a very positive move for the development of the game in the province and Zimbabwe at large. However, the equipment comes at a cost and l hope the association will help with the equipment for the game to kick off in schools.”
Seasoned sports administrator Daniel Kuwengwa who was part of the participants, called upon the participants to take advantage of such courses to develop the sport. He pointed that participants can take part in the development of the sport at any level, be it as players, coaches, or officials. Sports and Recreation provincial coordinator for Manicaland Mr Shupikai Berejena and Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture official Mr Prince Mutsvunguma were part of the organizing cast which ensured that even other line ministries sent in their representatives. In particular, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, Mutare Teachers College and Marymount Teachers Colleges also had participants who took part in the training.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Inspector in Mutare District, Mr Edson Mapungwana graced the closing ceremony and called upon participants to embrace the tenets of the game which promotes gentle behaviour in communities riddled with rising cases of drug abuse and gender based violence. Said Mr Mapungwana,, “ This training should be taken seriously because it is very important for the development of golf and other sporting activities in the schools. The game of golf is underpinned by good ethical values and gentlemen’s behaviour. These values are very important especially noting that our societies are now riddled with drug abuse cases by young learners, and rising gender based violence. The game should therefore be used to teach good values and l call upon the participants to develop the game of golf at grassroots level. “
The training ended with the closing ceremony at Hillside Sports Club, where the current ZPGA President Mr Martin Chikwana was once a household name, amid pomp and funfare as participants will later receive certificates, while future in service workshops will be lined up.
