Golfers protest new KGU national team selection

Golfers protest new KGU national team selection

Amateur golfers are not happy with the Kenya Golf Union (KGU) new selection policy for the national team with some protesting it skews the process to favour club players who play outside the Golfer of the Year series.

Speaking to Citizen Digital on Tuesday at Nairobi’s Muthaiga Golf Club, the golfers maintained they were not involved in the KGU’s Executive Board’s decision to change the selection criteria announced last week.

Former national team coach; Charles Farah, decried the new system will kill upcoming talent and compromise the quality of the game.

​”A few years ago when I took the national team to the State House to meet Former Retired President Mwai Kibaki, he asked me why I’m bringing elders to play for Kenya yet there are many youth in the country who can represent us well.

“Hence, he asked me to go look for youngsters who will play golf for Kenya. We did a talent search foundation and we got many youngsters whom I coached. They actually performed well, always won the East Africa challenge and other regional championships,” he told.

“Things started to change for the worse because of favouritism in the selection of the   national teams that has resulted in them not performing well and that’s why we’re are no longer regional champions. For example, a non-Kenyan was selected to represent the country in All Africa Games,” he claimed.

He underlined the recent poor fortunes of the national team belied the growth the game was undergoing locally as it tries to shed off the image of an elitist sport.

“The Union is busy accusing the players of playing for the money yet they do not appreciate the role of the caddies and what they have done for the country regionally and internationally.

“They spend a lot in preparations and playing with very minimal help form the Union. It needs to come out come out clean on their role because they take officials out for the tournaments who go for the holidays and the fat allowances they earn during the trips,” he alleged.

“Why are officials being taken in place of players who will add value to golf and bring money back? ” Farah asserted.

When contacted, KGU chairman, Anthony Muhoro was adamant the new selection policy discussed and adopted by the Executive Board last week will open up chances to club members to represent their nation.

He added it will also give an opportunity for other golfers who are not involved in the Golfer of the Year (GOTY) Series that was previously used as the yardstick for selection to vie for places in Kenya teams via qualifying tournaments.

​”As a team we feel that we are not appreciated. Personally, I prefer to play for my club because it appreciate and values me. GOTY events are played country wide and we spend a lot of money travelling and preparing hoping that we shall have fought hard for a spot in the National team and represent our country with a lot of pride.

“I find it very disrespectful for the chairman to say that they we only play for the money yet the union hardly support us. I believe in hard work hence this new selection mode is going to kill talents and careers because they simply want to field their own favourite players,” Alfred Nandwa, a Nairobi’s Railway Golf Club-based amateur golfer complained.

“We demand an apology from the chairman following an article that was published in one of the local dailies saying that we only care for the money and have no interest in golf as a sport,” amateur player at Muthaiga Golf Club, Jeff Kubwa demanded.

“I’m disappointed with the current leadership at the Union, they use their powers to intimidate those who question them on pressing matters. I was suspended for asking why they took a non Kenyan to represent us. I won the case and the sports Tribunal ordered the Union to reconcile with me, something that they have not done until now,” Robinson Owit, a former national amateur player decried.

“I call on all captains to unite so that we can we find a solution to this issue because all hard work is going to waste. In the meantime, I urge all amateurs to continue playing for their clubs and focus on improving their skills in golf,” national captain and Royal Golf Club player, Kenneth Bolloo urged.

The new system involves players undergoing qualification round(s) with each club affiliated to KGU allowed to send three players who are not in the top 15 on the GOTY ranking table for a qualifying round.

KGU chairman says the system will also be applied in the up-coming Victoria Cup, which is scheduled to start 2-5 June where Kenya will play against Uganda.

Tags:

Muthaiga Golf Club Alfred Nandwa Kenya Golf Union Anthony Muhoro Golfer of the Year GOTY KGU

Want to send us a story? Submit on Wananchi Reporting on the Citizen Digital App or Send an email to wananchi@royalmedia.co.ke or Send an SMS to 25170 or WhatsApp on 0743570000

Leave a Comment

Comments

No comments yet.

latest stories