Kenya team ready to defend Victoria Cup title
Last year, Kenya’s team won the overall title after tying 11-11 with hosts Uganda at the Uganda Golf Club
Team Kenya is ready to rumble again and defend its title in the forthcoming Victoria Cup 2025 edition to be held in the homefront next month.
Traditional rivals Uganda and Kenya meet again at the 18-hole Mt Kipipiri Golf Resort in Nyandarua County between Marc 20-22. The team will be led by John Lejirma as skipper from Railways Golf Club. Others in the 10-man squad include Nyali Golf player Michael Karanga and Elvis Muigua of Kiambu Golf Club and Adel Balala of Nyali Golf Club.
Josephat Rono, Elly Barno and Raphael Leming’ani are also in the team alongside youngsters Krish Shah, Kevin Anyien and Ebill Omollo. This team is expected to keep up momentum that saw Kenya dominate in previous rounds in yester years.
The selection criteria was based on last year’s Kenya Amateur Golf Championships (KAGC) rankings, the top two juniors and the best three ranked amateurs after the Great Rift Valley Championships. The nine year old tournament has been happening since 2016 with a brief stay from 2021-2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, Kenya’s team won the overall title after tying 11-11 with hosts Uganda at the Uganda Golf Club. Both sides split the points after four rounds but Kenya took the title home by virtue of being defending Champions. In the opening four-ball, Kenya took 3-1 against Uganda. In the second round took 2-1 in the foursome but Uganda turned tables in the third round taking home the better ball four as the pearl nation picked 3.5-0.5 against Kenya.
Uganda is likely to stick to its team consisting Ibrahim Bagalana, Sammy Mulama, Ibrahim Semakula, Titus Ekwong and Andrew Sekibija barring any changes. Kenya’s trio of captain Lejirmah,alongside the duo of Karanga and Omollo should be the main catalysts at home.
The Par 71 Kipipiri course will offer a stern test for both teams. Mt Kipipiri overlooks the course and there is always the threat of rain as the clouds roll over the heady heights of this idyllic landscape. The course itself is long with endless water hazards and numerous sand bunkers.
