Sports Kenya largesse for home stars

Kenyan professional and amateur players will tee off in Thursday’s opening round of the Barclays Kenya Open without having to worry about paying caddie fees or catering for their transport and other tournament-related expenses.

This after Sports Kenya Tuesday presented them a Sh2 million backing at the four-round Open.

Speaking at the tournament’s Muthaiga Golf Club venue on Tuesday before presenting the sponsorship cheque to the Kenya Open Golf Limited’s fund raising director Samson Reuben Ndegwa, Sports Kenya chairman, Fred Muteti, said his board has an obligation to support Kenyan sports teams representing the country in international events.

“Like other Kenyan sports teams, our golfers are here to represent the country and it is our responsibility to make sure that they are supported. This money will easy their financial obligations as they fly our national flag in this championship,” said Muteti who was accompanied by Sports Kenya director general Gordon Oluoch.

Ndegwa thanked Sports Kenya supporting the local players who are in need of such backing in order to play well.

He said local players need a lot of support to effectively compete with the visiting players who featured in a lot of tournaments last year, and who have proper sponsorship that enables then to travel widely for first class tournaments. “This support will definitely ease their (Kenyan players’) financial burden. We expect them to perform better this time, particularly after undergoing some training under a PGA certified coach late last year,” added Ndegwa.

Kenya will be represented by 22 professionals and six amateurs including Kenya junior champion, 16-year-old Agil Is-Haq from Mombasa’s Nyali Golf and Country Club.