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Kenya’s amateur golfers now shift focus to 2026 Victoria Cup in Uganda
John Lejirmah during a past edition of the Africa Region Four Golf Championship in Addis Ababa.
Following the conclusion of the Magical Kenya Open Championship at Karen Country Club a week ago, action now shifts to the amateur scene, as Kenya’s national team prepares to take on Uganda in the rotational Victoria Cup Golf championship.
Kenya men’s team flies out on Tuesday, March 3, to Entebbe in Uganda for 2026 Victoria Cup at Entebbe Golf Club.
Kenya will take on the hosts at East Africa’s oldest golf club, which was established in 1902.
The Kenyan team boasts youth and experience, and has senior and junior players selected on the basis of their performance in Kenya Amateur Golf Championship (KAGC) series, and the Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) Order of Merit.
The senior players in the team are Captain John Lejirmah from Royal Nairobi Golf Club, Elvis Muigua from Ndumberi Golf Club, Isaac Makokha from Railway, Daniel Kiragu from Muthaiga Club, and Ebill Omollo from Vet Lab.
The juniors in the suad are Junaid Manji, Tsevi Soni, and Yuvraj Rajput, all from Sigona, Mwathi Gicheru (Royal), and Kevin Anyien (Windsor).
Vet Lab Sports Club's Isaac Makokha follows the flight of his shot from the 14th tee during the Patron's Cup (Mwai Kibaki Cup) on August 26, 2023 at Muthaiga Golf Club.
With the exception of Mwathi Gicheru, the remaining players have represented the country at either the All Africa Junior Golf Championship or the Africa Region 4 Junior Championship.
Coach Ali Khimji, who led Kenya’s senior team to win the Africa Region 4 Championship in Mauritius last year, said the team is well blended and prepared to tackle hosts Uganda. “I can confidently say we are in a very strong position. We have just concluded a high-intensity training camp specifically designed to shift the players' focus from individual stroke play to the unique demands of match play’’ said coach Khimji.
He said the team focused heavily on creating Foursomes team chemistry and four-ball strategy, ensuring that the pairings are not just based on skill but on complimentary ball striking and mental resilience.
“Currently, every bit of the team’s energy is exactly where we want it. Several members of the junior contingent have already demonstrated their readiness for high-level competition this season, having secured two of the three KAGC tournaments held so far in 2026. Junaid Manji claimed victory at the Sigona Bowl, while Kevin Anyien won the Great Rift Valley Championship.”
Practice round is on Wednesday.
Hosts Uganda hope to defend the title of East Africa’s premier amateur team championship, having beaten Kenya at home when the event was hosted Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort in Nyandarua County, where Uganda got the better of Kenya, to take the cup to Uganda.
Victoria Cup was started in 2016, and Kenya having clinched the first three titles (2016 to 2018), before Uganda put up a brave fight to claim the 2019 title. The 2020 and 2021 events could not take place because of the COVID pandemic. Kenya bounced back to claim the 2022 title.
The 2023 event did not take place due to technicalities, while the two countries tied in the 2024 event. Kenya, being the champions, retained the trophy. But Uganda came back strongly to claim the 2025 event at Mt Kipipiri.
“With a strong selection made up of the country’s best amateur golfers, Kenya heads to Entebbe determined to deliver a strong performance, and to reclaim regional honours,’’ KGU chairman, Chris Kinuthia, said. He travels with the team as head of delegation, while his vice Brian Akun will be the team manager.
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