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The Zimbabwe Ladies A & B Teams

AN animated A and B Triangular tournament delegation left for Botswana on Monday (26 July) with a mission to accomplish – bringing home the A and B Triangular titles. The 11-member team led by national team coach Cath Riley, flew out to Botswana at midday for the tournament that will be held on 29 July at Phakalane Golf Estate in Gaborone.

Indeed, the team had every reason to be delighted at finally making the trip that had hung in the balance barely a week earlier with sponsors hard to come by. However, leading financial institution Interfin Banking Corporation came to the team’s rescue at the very last moment and took care of the team’s travel, accommodation and food expenses.

“I am very excited,” beamed Thembi Moyo, the Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union (ZLGU) president who is also a non-traveling reserve for the tournament. “We were in a tight spot and only managed to get sponsorship at the eleventh hour.”

Moyo added “I suppose ‘eleventh hour’ is going to be our catchword at this tournament. We want to bring both trophies home even if it means clinching victory at the eleventh hour.”

Speaking to Golfzone on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony for the team held at Royal Harare Golf Club last Sunday, Interfin Banking Corporation Head of Marketing Palmer Magavhu noted:

“It was only natural that we answered their (ladies) call and provided the financial resources necessary for them to travel for the tournament. As an organization, we have a huge drive towards sports development and at the moment we are currently involved in cricket (through the CFX academy) and ladies golf where we have been sponsoring the national team for its international assignments since 2005.”

Having hosted the last edition of the A and B Triangular tournament and emerged joint winners in the A division (alongside Zambia) and clear winners in the B division, Zimbabwe go into the Botswana edition as slight favorites. The team has a good mix of experience and youth with the likes of Jean MacKenzie and Indira Gulab bringing in years of experience while youngsters such as Virginia Vhudzi and first timers like Connie Mashiri will bring in the enthusiasm and adrenalin to the team’s charge.

Mashiri, who makes her debut for Zimbabwe as part of the B division team could not hide her delight at finally getting a chance to represent the country in an international event.

“Its my very first time representing Zimbabwe in a golf tournament,” chirped Mashiri. “I’m so excited I have been dreaming about golf everyday. Sometimes I see myself driving, sometimes I’m telling someone to putt, I’m just so excited. I can’t wait for the tournament to start.”

Incidentally, Mashiri will be part of the B team that will be captained by Indira Gulab and will also include Jay Lalla, Rodnah Mutasa and Marita Kahwema with youngster Wadzanai Kwaririma as the reserve. The A division team will be captained by Jean MacKenzie. The other members of the A team are Loveness Chandavengerwa, Loice Chingono, Kezi Chiwanza, Virginia Vhudzi and Thembi Moyo who is the reserve.

Zambia has traditionally been the biggest threat to Zimbabwe and is once again expected to push their southern neighbors all the way. But it will also be interesting to see how the hosts Botswana will fare on their home course. The Batswana ladies could yet brew a shocker and seriously challenge for both titles themselves.

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