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Led by Coach Flavia Namakula, the team is set to participate in the annual championship to be played at the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course, Fukada, Hoyucho, Toyota Cityfrom June 20 to 25.
Excitement is palpable as Uganda's four-man golf team prepares to make their Toyota Junior Golf World Cup debut in Japan.
Led by Coach Flavia Namakula, the team is set to participate in the annual championship to be played at the Chukyo Golf Club Ishino Course, Fukada, Hoyucho, Toyota Cityfrom June 20 to 25.
Joseph Akena will serve as the team captain, alongside Juma Abiti, Ibrahim Ssemakula, and Collins Matovu, who joins as a replacement for Abdu Kakeeto.
Uganda secured their qualification by finishing second in the All-Africa Junior Golf Team Championship held at Lake Victoria Serena Golf Resort in April.
The Ugandan Junior Golfers will represent Africa alongside South Africa, which emerged victorious in both the boys' and girls' categories of the Africa event.
In the midst of their preparations, optimism and excitement fill the air. Uganda Golf Union President Moses Matsiko expressed confidence in the team's abilities, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience.
"Apart from winning, they should go out there and enjoy the experience. We are taking a team that we are confident will produce good results," Matsiko stated.
Coach Flavia Namakula highlighted the team's thorough preparations, mentioning their participation in the R&A-sponsored Africa high-performance program.
Namakula believes that the exposure Akena and Abiti gained from the Regional IV championship in Ethiopia, where Uganda secured a second-place finish, will play a crucial role in achieving positive results.
“I believe they are ready, and the exposure Akena and Abiti got from the Regional IV championship in Ethiopia where Uganda finished second, will also be crucial and produce good results,” Namakula said.
"We will try to control what we can and be good ambassadors of Uganda and Africa at large," Shea added.
The players themselves are eager to compete and have promised to give their best in Japan.
Abiti, drawing inspiration from his recent trip to Ethiopia, shared, "My travel to Ethiopia recently helped me a lot because I was able to get a few tips from there. So, I intend to put that in practice while in Japan."
Collins Matovu, making his debut on the team, is equally confident about contributing positively to the team's performance.
Ssemakula echoed this sentiment, stating, "We have practiced well, and following the R&A training, I'm a different golfer. We are going to make it."
Team captain Joseph Akena emphasized the importance of the mental aspect of the game and the team's improved mindset.
He expressed his determination to apply the lessons taught by the coaches and excel in the tournament.
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