Vision 2030 out to help locals do well in big events

Vision 2030 Director General Kenneth Mwige follow action during the Magical Kenya Open Tournament at the Karen Country Club on March 19, 2021. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya Vision 2030, a State initiative that aims to transform the country into a newly industrialised, middle-income nation, is on a mission to demystify golf in Kenya.

Kenya Vision 2030 is out to narrow the gap between top international pros and the local players.

“We have realised there’s a great difference in the mental strength of our golfers as compared to their international counterparts. This is what has hindered our pros from being champions.

“We are out to bridge this gap,” Kenneth Mwige, the Vision 2030 director general told Standard Sports.

However, Mwige feels the task is too big to accomplish alone.

It is on this note that he is challenging other corporates to come on board and adopt a golfer at the start of the 2021/2022 Safari Tour series, to help the players prepare extensively ahead of next year’s European Tour events.

“By supporting the golfers directly, we help them to cut down the costs and expenses they would have incurred in their preparation.

“This gives them peace of mind as they train hard and take part in the Safari Tour circuit ahead of the Magical Kenya Open,” Mwige said.

Mwige insists corporates don’t need to sink much money in the relationship. “Even Sh100,000 will be such a big boost to the players,” he says.

Mwige feels the support to the players should be institutionalised so it will be all season affair. “Our aim is to make this support all year affair, not just for a certain period,” he said.

Through investing in these players, Mwige says corporates stand to reap big returns.

After empowering the golfers financially, Mwige says they should be taken through a series of training to help them become mentally tough for championships.

Vision 2030 Director General Ken Mwige presents awards on Monday March 29, 2021 to golfers David Wakhu and Samuel Njoroge for their exemplary performance during the European Tour events, the Kenya open and Savannah Classic held at Karen Golf and Country Club. [Standard Sports]

“It’s their mental software that needs to be transformed. The players should believe that they are capable of lifting the trophies.

“We don’t want them to be taken by stage fright to an extent they can’t perform well at the Karen course where they do play all the year round.”