Neema Olomi hopes to add something fresh to the national ladies golf team after getting a late call-up from the Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU), ahead of the East and Central Africa Challenge Trophy.
The Challenge Trophy takes place at the Lusaka Golf Club in Zambia from June 3-5, this year. The biennial tournament will be followed by the Zambia Ladies Open Amateur Stroke-Play Championship set for June 7 to 9 at the same course all national team members participating.
TLGU honorary secretary Anita Siwale told the ‘Daily News on Saturday’ from Morogoro yesterday that Neema from Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC), will replace Ayne Magombe who withdrew from the team last week to pursue further studies in the United States of America.
Neema joins a squad that includes captain Madina Iddi from AGC, Angel Eaton and Hawa Wanyeche, both of Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) who are already in intensive preparations for the trip to Zambia.
Siwale said that Neema was called after she won a special contest against club mate Lina Francis. The battle was held under the supervision of professional golfer Olais Mollel who was tasked by TLGU to find the perfect candidate.
The contest was necessitated by the fact the duo hold the same handicap-5 and have never played for the national team.
Siwale said the two-day battle was too close to call and any of them could win.Commenting on Neema and Lina, Mollel said that they have the same strength, but Neema was lucky to secure the place.
“If there were two places, I would have advised TLGU to take both, but since there was only on chance I think Neema deserved it because she has the ability and is consistent,” he said.
This will be Neema’s first assignment with the national team. She was also in a provisional team of six players in 2011, but could not make it to the final four-member squad that lifted the Challenge Trophy for the second consecutive term at Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam.
Neema will train with Madina in Arusha, while Angel and Hawa train at DGC and according to Siwale, their mood is high.
Source Tanzania Daily News
