Golf Union of Malawi (GUoM) has elected Gift Chidya Gondwe as president, replacing High Court of Malawi Judge Ken Manda, whose term expired.

The golf body ushered in a new committee on Friday in Lilongwe following the expiry of the previous committee’s two-year term.

The Blantyre Sports Club (BSC) golfer amassed 17 votes against his challenger Jacob Chikoya’s 14.

In an interview on Saturday, Gondwe pledged to, among others, turn golf into a majority sport in the country.

He said: “I am excited and extremely humbled because of the faith and trust bestowed on me by the golf fraternity and  I promise to take the sport to new heights.

“Golf has not been visible and it is considered by many as a sport for the elite in the country and I want to change that mindset.

“Anyone should feel free to play golf and as a new committee, we will try as much as we can to reach out to as many potential golfers as possible.”

Gondwe, who was flanked by a fellow new committee member Khumbo Mkandawire, also said developing the sport from the grassroots will be a priority.

He said their target will be to produce a golfer who can ably compete at Professional Golfers Association (PGA) level.

Gondwe said: “We will also see to it that the  national teams should get the necessary support from GUoM and the corporate world.”

Other members of the new committee include Thomas Chafunya, Mkandawire, Victor Mangochi, Gift Kawamba, Ulemu Mvula, Honest Chirwa, Ketamyoto Mulwafu and immediate-past president Manda.

A Lilongwe-based former national team player Texas Banda said in an interview yesterday that there is a lot of expectation from the new committee.

He said: “Leadership has always been a challenge in terms of supporting the national team and making the sport accessible to the common man.

“Preparations of the national teams leave a lot to be desired as golfers are not motivated and lack support.”

One of the junior national team players Gift Kananga said they expect the new leadership to breathe a new lease of life into the sport.

“Imagine, we lack basic equipment and we do not prepare properly for tournaments.

“There is lack of motivation as sometimes we do not get allowances while on national duty. So, we expect all that to change with the coming of the new committee,”he said.

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