KAMPALA. 2015 Nile Special-Uspa sportsman of the year Ronald Otile and Daniel Baguma leave for Pretoria next week to begin their golfing and academic dream after finally securing visas to South Africa.
“It’s not been easy, the whole process,” Oscar Ssemawere, an executive member in charge of competitions and development at the Uganda Golf Union (UGU), told Sunday Monitor, “But at last we are relieved and happy it is done.”
Ssemawere, through the Union, led the scholarship application process for the two Tooro Golf Club (TGC) and national team stars in December last year. The scholarship was finally granted in March this year.
They will do their three-year Elite Champ Golf Program at the Turks Academy, which is under the University of Pretoria.
The Union was advised to apply at the academy through Pretoria by the Africa Director of Golf Development at R & A, Alison White.
Smooth journey
The academy will sponsor the duo’s studies for the three years while the Union and well-wishers, some of whom contributed to the Otile Foundation after the golfer won the double Uganda Open, will take charge of the boys’ welfare.
“This provides a smooth journey for me to improve my game since I will be playing with more experienced golfers,” Otile, 21 in September, told this newspaper.
“Once it is all done, I want to return as a pro and also coach. And then there is the bigger picture of a chance at the European Tours. So it’s big.”
His colleague, 20-year-old Baguma, is basking in the “big opportunity” where he says keeping grounded will take him places.
“I now have to put my head down and focus on making my dreams come true,” Baguma, who was considered for the scholarship as one of the best young golfers, said, “Every golfer dreams of having a shot at the European Tour and PGA.”
amwanguhya@ug.nationmedia.com
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