Tanzania ladies ready for Agadir AACT conquest

MOROCCO: THE Tanzanian ladies’ golf team is poised for a challenging competition as the AllAfrica Golf Challenge Trophy (AACT) tees off today at Taghazout Golf Club in Agadir, Morocco.

Led by captain Hawa Wanyeche from the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) Lugalo Golf Club in Dar es Salaam, the team has completed a three-day course acclimatisation in preparation for the first round of the biannual 54-hole tournament, which runs through Saturday.

Joining Wanyeche are experienced golfers Madina Iddi and Neema Olomi, both representing Arusha Gymkhana Club (AGC). The team is supported by Tanzania Ladies Golf Union (TLGU) Vice President Ayne Magombe, who also serves as head of delegation, along with TLGU Honorary Secretary Yasmin Chali.

Captain Wanyeche expressed confidence in the team’s readiness to take on 21 African nations competing for the prestigious title.

“We are thankful for a safe journey. The course is fantastic but presents two major challenges: very fast greens and strong coastal winds,” said Wanyeche.

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“The greens are quite different from what we are used to back home, but we will stay calm and adapt. The course, being near the sea and with few trees, is particularly affected by heavy winds.” Magombe confirmed that all three players have undergone intensive training in preparation for the tournament.

In the previous AACT, held in Dar es Salaam in 2022, Tanzania finished third with a total score of 455, trailing champions South Africa (444) by 11 strokes and runners-up Morocco (449) by six strokes. The 2022 team included former member Angel Eaton, now a professional golfer.

“We are determined to improve on our performance from last year,” said Madina, one of Tanzania’s top contenders.

Madina recently triumphed in the 2024 Zambia Ladies Open and Uganda Open, boosting her confidence for the competition.

She added that the team’s familiarity with many of their opponents provides an advantage in strategising for the matches.

Olomi, who has excelled in major tournaments in Kenya and Uganda, brings invaluable experience to the team, while Captain Wanyeche’s impressive showing at Uganda’s Ladies Open further strengthens the team’s confidence. The team is focused on making a strong push for the title as they compete against the best in Africa.