MALANJI

By FELIX MALUNGA-
THE 2014 Zambia Open Golf Championship will be the richest in Africa outside South Africa after title sponsors, Mopani Copper Mines upped the prize money to R2.5 million (about K1.5 million).
This year’s prize money is more than double what was at stake in 2013 when the golfers were fighting for a share of R1.2 million.
With an attractive package available, the Mopani Zambia Open Championship has since seen 158 professional golfers drawn from across the globe signing up for the event slated for the refurbished Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe next month.
Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president, Joe Malanji commended Mopani for improving the status of the Zambia Open by making it one of the most lucrative on the Sunshine Tour’s winter swing.
Malanji said in a statement released in Kitwe yesterday that by increasing the prize money to R2.5 million for this year’s prestigious championship, Mopani had made the Zambia Open the best in Africa outside South Africa.
He said because of the improved package, the Mopani Zambia Open, which has been set for May 15-18,  would attract top players in all tours including the American Professional Golfers Association.
A horde of top players, who include defending champion, Adilson da Silva from Brazil and two other former winners, Tyrone Ferreira and Desvonde Botes including other players from Europe have already signed up for the tournament heading to Kitwe for the first time.
Zambia’s golf prodigies, Dayne Moore, Madalitso Muthiya and Michael Chiluba are also among the early birds for the cosmopolitan championship.
So far the majority of the professionals, who have entered the Mopani Zambia Open, are those on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa, the tournament authorities.
Malanji also commended the mining giant for undertaking a complete make-over of Nkana Golf Club by turning it into one of the most beautiful in Zambia.
“I commend Mopani for the improvement it has done to Nkana Golf Club and employment created for the workers attached to the club,” Malanji said.
Veteran mining expert, Emmanuel Mutati is spearheading the organisation of the tournament.
Several corporate entities have come on board to partner Mopani and Nkana Golf Club in sponsoring the event which will be preceded by two Pro-Ams.
More than $1 million was pledged by various stakeholders towards the staging of the tournament.