Ericsson, one of the world’s leading telecommunications giants has pulled out of this year’s MTN golf tournament, according to reports from both MTN and Kigali Golf Club.
The international company which has jointly bankrolled the tournament since its inception in 2002 is said to have pulled out of this year’s edition sighting bad timing.

According to MTN’s public relations officer Bosco Sendahangarwa,
 The Swedish giant which had wished for the event to be held in December failed to alter their schedule after learning that the event would be staged in October.

"Ericsson wanted the tournament to be pushed to December but according to KGC, the club was not ready to distort the tournament’s tradition where it has always been held in October,” Sendahangarwa said.

Sendahangarwa also said that the event dates were timely to Betsy King’s arrival in the country.

The legendary American professional lady golfer who arrives this Friday will be one of the special guests for the two-day tournament that swings into action this Saturday at Nyarutarama golf course.

On top of her visit, King will hold a golf development clinic this Sunday for amateur golfers.       Despite Ericsson’s pullout, MTN is set to stick to the tournament’s annual budget estimated at Francs 7millions.

"I’m not sure whether their pullout will have a big bearing on the budget. The budget will more-less remain unchanged,” Sendahangarwa clarified.
Ends