Golfers name East Africa Challenge team

Rwanda has named a strong ten-man team for next week’s East African Golf Challenge (EAGC) which will be held at Bujumbura golf course from November 7-11.

Friday, November 02, 2012
Davis Kashaka has been named on the team for next week's East African Golf Challenge. The New Times / File.

Rwanda has named a strong ten-man team for next week’s East African Golf Challenge (EAGC) which will be held at Bujumbura golf course from November 7-11.The team named by head coach Jean Baptiste Hakizimana includes; Aphrodis Nyirinkwaya, Emmanuel Rutayisire, Augustin Habineza, Emmanuel Habineza, Leonard Nkurunziza, Patrick Uwumukiza, Davis Kashaka, Steven Katwiremu, Jules Mutesa and captain Innocent Rutamu.The team, which departs for Bujumbura on Sunday, will train on Monday and Tuesday before starting the hunt for glory on Wednesday.Hakizimana, himself a professional golfer, is promising a good outing for the team which will be hoping to override their last year’s disappointing second last finish. "The players have prepared quiet well. I am hoping for the best from these players. The team has been boosted by young players and if I can compare with previous editions, there is much optimism of winning the title in Burundi,” Hakizimana said this week.Kenya are the defending champions of the championship that was hosted in Arusha, Tanzania last year. Kenya finished with 21 points ahead of hosts Tanzania on 19.5, with Uganda finishing a distant third on 5.5 points. Rwanda was only a half-point behind, on 5, followed by Burundi with 4.5 points.The championship is expected to bring together golf players of national teams from the five East African Community (EAC) countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.According to the press release signed by Bujumbura Golf Club Chairman Christos Kamberis, the tournament is "important to create the regional visibility.”The championship takes place every year on a rotating basis among the five EAC states.