Malawi on course, CDF tour gathers storm
ALL is set as top golfers from Malawi and those from across Tanzania set to light up this year’s CDF Golf Trophy coming under NMB Bank’s banner.
The CDF open is scheduled to tee off from September 2nd and to 3rd this year at the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club of Dar es Salaam.
During the press briefing, the Lugalo Golf Club Chairman Brigadier General (rtd) Michael Luwongo noted that the preparations are in top gear as the tournament commences next weekend.
Luwongo, who will be among the senior category players to battle it out for the top honour, has been in intensive training ready for the two-day tournament.
He confirmed that over 20 visitors from Malawi, including 10 top officials from Malawian Defence Force (MDF) are expecting to join over 150 Tanzanian golfers in a 36-hole battle.
Luwongo said the prestigious event is meant to honour the Chief Defence Forces (CDF) currently Jacob Mkunda, who will grace Sunday’s closing ceremony as a chief guest.
However, before the national-level CDF Trophy event, Luwongo will be joined by the club captain Major Japhet Masai to lead the Lugalo team in a friendly match against the Malawi army on September 1st this year as part of the celebrations to mark the 59th anniversary of TPDF.
The chairman stressed that Friday’s game against their Malawian visitors is an important trial before the CDF Trophy tee-off on Saturday.
He thanked the main sponsor, NMB Bank who has been supporting the event for eight years in a row and co-sponsors; Serena Hotels and Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Limited (METL) for making it possible.
Luwongo stressed that the door is also open for those wishing to join the sponsorship list and make the tournament more successful.
NMB Bank has injected 30m/- to sponsor the tournament whose participants are men, ladies, junior players and professional golfers.
The NMB Head of Personal Banking, Aikansia Muro complimented Lugalo Club for the efforts they have been doing to develop the game.
She said NMB as one of the important stakeholders of the game and country sports in general, have seen the importance of sponsoring it and will continue to do so.
The Club’s captain Masai said the course is in good condition and that professional golfers will first tee off on Friday and conclude on Saturday.
He insisted that the overall winner will be the best gross scorer over two rounds of the battle, while those in subsidiary categories will compete on the net score.
Marius Kajuna will be on course to defend the title he won last year when he carded an aggregate 148 gross to win the event.
