Jean Baptiste Hakizimana still believes he could turn professional sooner rather than later. The country’s top amateur golfer has confirmed to Sunday Sport that everything is going according to plan and it won’t be long before his dream comes true. The 19-year-old star also disclosed that he will meet with MTN, his official sponsors this Tuesday for detailed talks about his professional move and his proposed new contract. “I will be meeting Themba Khumalo (MTN Chief Executive Officer) next week to fully discuss my professional move as well as my contract details,” the teenager stated. Hakizimana has been playing golf since he was ten, starting his career as a caddie at Kigali Golf Club before becoming an amateur golfer in 2005. At 19, he boasts of five national team appearances which include; East Africa Challenge Cup (Tanzania), Zone Six (Swaziland), East Africa Challenge Cup (Burundi), Zone Six (Uganda) and All Africa Challenge Cup (Namibia). Although Rwanda’s sole professional golfer Emmanuel Ruterana has backed him to do well at the top level, one of Rwanda’s most experienced golfers and ex- KGC captain Davis Kashaka thinks otherwise. “I think Hakizimana still needs to build on his game before joining the top level. I have no doubt about his talent and capability to do well at this level but I really think that he needs a firm foundation before joining the professional ranks,” Kashaka reasoned.Ends
