Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter

LEADING financial institution, FBC bank has agreed has taken over title sponsorship of the forthcoming 2017 All Africa Golf tournament that is pencilled for the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls next week.

The financial institution, on Wednesday, handed over a cheque of $35 000 to the Zimbabwe Golf Association president Mufaro Chivonivoni which will go towards the successful hosting of the event.

“The tournament has now been renamed the 2017 FBC All Africa Golf team Championships and as ZGA we are very grateful to FBC for their gesture and to other corporates like Tongaat Hullet, Minerva, Seedco, Zuva, Legacy Group and Colcom that have come on board,” said the ZGA president Chivonivoni.

He said the Elephant Hills staff have been working round the clock to ensure that the golf course is in good condition ahead of the start of the tournament.

“We are confident that the event will be a success and that it will also go a long way in promoting the Zimbabwe brand as the players will have some time to visit the tourist attractions that are in and around Victoria falls,” said Chivonivoni.

The ZGA boss said the official flag raising ceremony will be held on Monday with teeing off on the next day right up to the final round on Friday.

Fifteen countries will take part at this year’s tournament and are expected to start arriving on Friday ahead of the official raising of the flag.

Chivonivoni said the countries that will be at the greens are Egypt, Kenya, Uganda, Reunion Island, Tunisia, Zambia, Tanzania, Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Angola, Namibia Ghana and hosts Zimbabwe.

The All Africa Golf Team Championships is held every two years and Zimbabwe finished third behind winners South Africa and the hosts Kenya, who came second, in 2015.

Countries are requested to send four of their top national amateur players along with a coach and president of their national association/Union for a contingent total of six.

The executives of the Africa Golf Confederation and representatives of the Royal and Ancient of Scotland usually grace the tournament.

The competition is used to prepare top African amateur golfers for the World Amateur Team Championships that are held every two years under the auspices of the International Golf Federation.

@skhumoyo2000.