This year’s edition of the East Africa Golf Challenge gets underway today at the Par-72 Kigali golf course, Nyarutarama with hosts Rwanda eyeing to win it for the first time in 10 attempts. Jules Mutesa strikes the ball during the just concluded Rwanda Open. He is leading Rwandas quest for a first EA Challenge title. (Courtesy) The three-day, tournament, played on the Ryder Cup former (match play) has attracted five teams namely; Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania Ethiopia and defending champions Uganda, and will begin with the singles competition. On Friday, it will be the foursome and again the singles on the final day on Saturday when the team with the highest number of points will be crowned champions—a win is one point while a draw brings half a point. This is the third time that the annual tournament is being competed for by the finest amateur golfers from their respective countries since 2005 when the Rwanda Gold Union was incorporated in the East African Golf Federation. “We have prepared the team so well, a team made up of young and capable players, and we are confident they will win it for the first time,” said the Rwanda Golf Union president Andrew Nkwandi. Last year in Uganda, Rwanda finished in third position behind second-placed Kenya and ahead of Tanzania and Burundi, however, team captain Jules Mutesa Dusabe echoed Nkwandi sentiments that this year could be Rwanda’s time to break the duck. He said, “This year’s East African Challenge will be my last as an amateur player, so as team captain, I would love to leave on a high by helping the team win it.” Mutesa, fresh from winning his second Rwanda Open title last weekend, leads the eight-man team into the battles against the best players from the region but he doesn’t seem to be bothered by the challenge. “Winning the Rwanda Open was sort of a surprise for me, but as a team we are determined and confident that, on Saturday, it will be the Rwandan flag flying highest,” noted the 29-year-old former caddie. Rwanda’s team comprises of Mutesa (captain, Afrodis Nyirinkwaya, Celestin Habineza, Leonard Nkurunziza, Emmanuel Rutayisire, Joseph Barame, Aloys Nsabimana, Francois Habimana and debutant Celestin Nsanzuwere, the youngest member on the team, aged 15. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
