By FELIX MALUNGA –

ZAMBIA’s top five golf clubs are bidding to stage the 2014 All Africa Junior Challenge Championships which will attract 16 participating countries.

The clubs interested in hosting the continental showpiece are Lusaka, Chainama Hills, Ndola, Nkana and Nchanga, who organised the 2003 edition in Chingola.

Zambia Golf Union (ZGU) honorary secretary, Kelly Munsaka said hosting the 2014 edition would create a platform for the nation to showcase its potential to the outside world, hence the need to pick the best club.

Munsaka said in an interview in Kitwe yesterday that national pride was at stake and that ZGU would pick a venue to befit the nation’s status.

“Our national character will come to the fore so we need to choose a venue that will befit our status. We are looking at which club can best host this event where 16 countries will participate.

“This tournament will create a platform for Zambia to sell itself. Zambia needs to show its relevance to the African golfing fraternity,” he said.

Munsaka, however, said ZGU would deal with the matter expeditiously because the tournament, which will be held in April, needed a lot of organisation and lobbying of the corporate world for support.

The ZGU chief said there were a lot of factors which ZGU would be looking at before selecting the most suitable host club.

He said staging of the 2014 All Africa Junior Challenge would be a dress rehearsal for Zambia before later in October hosting the much bigger, Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) President’s Cup.

The AGC President’s Cup is hosted by the country where the continental golf boss is based for four consecutive years.

Immediate-past ZGU president, Joe Malanji heads the AGC after being elected earlier this year.

Munsaka also said it was ZGU’s policy to avail an opportunity to peri-urban golf clubs to bid for several tournaments.

He said hosting major events gives an opportunity for golf clubs to develop their infrastructure.