Rwandair Express maintained its long-standing support to the country’s sole professional golfer Emmanuel Ruterana by flying him to South Africa for the lucrative Sunshine tour. Manzi Kayihura, the company’s Chief Executive Officer confirmed the accord between Rwanda’s national carrier and Ruterana as soon as the later joined the professional ranks. The 26-year-old who has been acclimatizing to South Africa’s golf courses since Sunday will compete in three tournaments; the Africa Open, Vodacom championship and the Telecom PGA tournament. Ruterana will open his campaign this Thursday with the Africa Open which is worth 1.2 million South African Rands (about Frw88 millions). He will then take part in the Vodacom championship from Feb 14-17 before winding up with the telecom PGA event on Feb 21-24. The Vodacom event has 2.4 million Rands (approx. Frw176M) worth of prize money while the Telecom PGA is billed up to 2.5 million Rands (about Frw183M). Before departing, Ruterana said that this was a big step in his professional career. Four-five months back, playing in the Sunshine tour was a dream. Now, I’m living my dream, he said. On top rewriting history as the first professional golfer in Rwanda, he is also the first Rwandan golfer on South Africa’s most prestigious golf tour that also attracts some of the best international golfers. While in South Africa, Rwanda Commercial Bank (BCR), Ruterana’s official sponsors will foot his expenses ranging from meals, accommodation, transport and upkeep amongst others. It is the least we can do for him and only wish him good luck, BCR’s marketing manager Hannington Namara said. Other regional golfers lined up on the tour include Ugandan duo of Deo Akope and Godfrey Mande.Ends
