By OUR CORRESPONDENT
President of Nigerian Golf Federation (NGF) Otunba Olusegun Runsewe has assured the African golf community of Nigeria’s readiness to host a successful 2023 West & Central Africa Challenge trophy in Lagos.
The one week long event scheduled to hold at Lakowa Lakes Golf Estate and Resort in Lagos from October 3rd -7th, will feature 10 African countries including Gabon, Ghana, Togo, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra-Leone, Benin Republic, Senegal, Burkina-Faso and host Nigeria.
Runsewe, who doubles as the director general for National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), while speaking to journalists ahead of the tournament, said all hands are on deck to make Nigeria proud.
“It is a big opportunity to tell outsiders about Nigeria, especially that the country is safer than what they are reading on the internet.
There could also be investment opportunities to promote trade.
“We have put in place all necessary things to ensure a successful tournament. We’re going to showcase and project the country in a big manner. We are excited about the tournament because all the countries coming are taking golf seriously.”
Apart from hosting, Runsewe is also of the opinion that Nigeria is hosting to win the tournament. “We are the defending champions. I’m sure we are hosting to win. How can we host and lose in our home soil ? We should learn how to host and win. How can we put N100m on the table for an outsider to come and win it, it’s ridiculous to me. That’s the long and short of the story.
“I sincerely hope that the Minister of Sports will be in Lagos to be part of the tournament. I sincerely appreciate the organizer of the tournament for their hard work to ensure that everything is top notch,” he said.
Also speaking at the occasion, the organiser of the event, Mrs.Juliet Monyei-Inyere, the president, Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) was happy that the nation is hosting the event back to back after the covid-pandemic.
She explained that the event is a world amateur golf ranking event with players playing their individual best to improve their world ranking points or get on the world ranking.
“We are ready for a top notch tournament. Everything is in place, security, logistics and all necessary things to ensure a successful tournament,” she said.
