Muthaiga begin title defence at Royal Nairobi

Tannahill Shield defending champions Muthaiga Golf Club starts its 2012 campaign with a match against Mombasa and Sigona at the long-playing Royal Nairobi Golf Club course Friday afternoon.

Muthaiga have made only three changes, bringing in Kabugu Kagwe, Bishop Allan Wairi and former junior international, Bhavnish Chandaria, who is not entirely new to the team, having represented the club before leaving for studies in the UK.

Muthaiga will, however, face a new Mombasa side. With the exception of former Nyali captain James Mureu, Allan Dainty, William Kaguta and Eric Nyongesa, the rest of the Mombasa squad is aged 18 years and under.

And team manager Terry Kaguta knows his team may not stand a chance of beating giants like Muthaiga, hosts Royal and Vet Lab, but he is out to send a message that victory will not be long in coming for his side.

One of the juniors, 15-year-old Daniel Nduva (5) has represented Kenya in the Africa Zone Six and last weekend’s Africa Junior Championship in Botswana.

Nduva leads Mombasa youngsters

Currently playing off handicap five, Nduva will be leading Wahome brothers Jeremy (18) and Mathew (14) playing off handicap eight and nine, among others in the team.

The others are long-hitting John Mburu (16), playing off six, and 13-year-old Adel Balala, playing off 11 handicap.

Although young and playing their first Tannahill Shield, the Mombasa ‘juniors’ are capable of causing a major upset this weekend.

Teeing off first will be hosts Royal Nairobi who have a tough assignment against Karen and a strong Western team of players from Kericho, Eldoret, Nandi Bears, Nakuru, and the Great Rift Valley Golf Resort in Naivasha.

All these matches will be off from the first tee from noon.

At the 10th, Vet Lab, which finished third with 38 points and a point behind Royal last year, take on Railway, which makes a comeback after being relegated in 2010 when it was replaced by Windsor last year, and Limuru, which has retained last year’s team which will be led by the “Chief Warrior” Yassin Awale.

This year, the Tannahill Shield, which marks its 89th anniversary, is being sponsored by Crown Beverages Limited through its top brands of Keringet bottled water and Castle Lite.