THE national golf team has started preparations for the East African Golf Challenge which is scheduled to run from November 8-11 at Arusha gymkhana club inTanzania.

Andrew Muhangi, president of Rwanda Golf Union told Times Sport yesterday that the team has started training and are well set for the challenge.

"The team has started training at Kigali golf club. They were involved in morning drills under the guidance of Jean Baptist Hakizimana and Joseph Semwaga,” said Muhangi.

Muhangi is hopeful that Rwanda will do better in this year’s edition considering the level of local golfers.

"I believe we will perform better because the level of our golfers has improved,” added Muhangi.

In last year’s edition held in Kigali, Rwanda finished third behind Uganda and Kenya and they will be targeting a higher finish this year’s event.

The regional tournament will bring together top golfers from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda and host Tanzania.

Meanwhile, that the Minister of Youth, Sports and culture Protais Mitali has promised continued support to golf after being impressed with the game’s growing popularity in the country.

Mitali said this during the Rwanda-Uganda Golf Fraternity tournament on Saturday after the president of Rwanda Golf Union presented a youthful team that will represent the country in Arusha.

"I was surprised to read a list of the richest people in the world and Tiger Woods was in it, so I think am going to learn how to play this game,” Mitali joked, causing laughter among the audience.

He added, "We will continue to support golf development in the country.” Francois Rugomboka scooped the top prize in the two day event that attracted 84 golfers from the two countries.

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