The Captain of Uganda Professional Golfers Association (UPGA), an MTN sponsored Golfer Mr. Deo Akope has called on Government through National Counsel of Sports (NCS) to support the game of Golf, stating that whenever Ugandan professional Golfers play at international level, they represent the country.
Recently, during the MTN Business Golf Day, MTN Uganda’s CEO Mazen Mroué, handed over golf equipment to the Uganda Golf Club Captain, Charles Katarikawe. The items included caddy range gear comprising shorts, shirts, bibs, leg guards, shin guards and helmets as well as ball picker equipment. These are part of a total package worth UShs.90million that will go a long way in supporting the club’s activities. For the last 5 years MTN Uganda has sponsored the MTN Monthly Mug which runs throughout the annual golf calendar. Over time, this property has evolved and today the Uganda Golf Club now fully runs and manages the Monthly Mug events.
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The MTN Uganda GM Corporate Services, Anthony Katamba said, “MTN Uganda has sponsored one of Uganda’s leading golf talents and upcoming pro-golfers, Deo Akope. Since 2010 we have supported him to the tune of UShs. 174 million with an annual sponsorship package of UShs. 58 million (USD. 23,000). Akope has participated in a number of international golf tournaments under the MTN sponsorship and has flown not only the MTN flag high, but the Ugandan flag as well”.
Katamba said that MTN Uganda has consistently supported the sporting fraternity in Uganda and aside from golf, it has assisted many sports over the years including football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and golf amongst others. Through the MTN Arena in Lugogo, which was refurbished by MTN in 2010 to be the largest and most modern indoor stadium in Uganda and the region, we are leaving a legacy for Ugandans to benefit from. The MTN Kampala Marathon now in its 10th year has supported many noble causes over the years and remains the flagship event on the Uganda Sports and Social Calendar.
Akope who spoke at an exclusive interview at the Kampala Golf Club on Friday called himself lucky to be enjoying MTN Uganda Sponsorship a move he said, has exposed him to the international Golf tournaments as well as helping him better his skills at the game.
“I am proud to be associated with MTN and I have no doubt that this sponsorship has gone a long way in exposing me to international golf tournaments including overseas where I have been representing the country”.
Talking about his achievements since the MTN sponsorship commenced in 2010, Akope said he has been able to lift countless trophies at the local scene while at the regional scene he has twice won the KCB series; once in Arusha in 2010 and in Kampala in 2011. He also attained his second cut in the Zambian Tournament within the same year.
“The game of Golf in Uganda is growing at a very fast rate. We are now able to export more players to international Golf Tournaments, unfortunately most players lack sponsorship. This notwithstanding, our national team is getting better by the year. Companies such as MTN Uganda have been our pioneer sponsors”, he said.
Akope also decried the state of the different Golf courses in the country, adding that they are not up to international standard compared to other courses across the world. He further appealed to the goodwill of other Corporate Companies to develop a pool for sponsorship of Golf to help improve the standard at the local level.
He said the MTN Annual sponsorship package has helped open many doors for him, including his recent excursion in the Dubai Tournament. Okope’s next focus is now on the forthcoming Mena Tour in the Middle East as well as tournaments in Zambia and the Zimbabwe. He is also eying the Nigerian Tour all happening in 2014.
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