Zanzibar President Ali Mohamed Shein has reiterated his government’s commitment to revive sports in the isles, with special emphasis given to less promoted games such as golf.
President Ali Mohamed Shein
He made the remarks over the weekend when opening the Sea Cliff golf course in Zanzibar, designed by a South African golf expert.
The nine holes course is modern and the first of its kind in Zanzibar that opens new opportunities to the Isles and the country at large.
President Shein said in his opening speech that the seventh phase government was committed to see sports continue to grow in Zanzibar, saying the opening of the new golf course was a testimony of such commitments.
“Our goal is geared towards making efforts to revive sports and see the sector grow at the required level. We also want to unearth a new crop of athletes capable of winning in international competitions.
He said that the opening of the new golf course will provide an avenue for new talents to emerge in Zanzaibar and compete at the top international level in the near future.
“It’s too early to say that we can produce our own Tiger Woods, but there is no reason to rule ourselves out of such brackets in the future,” the president said, adding that with proper plans and commitment Zanzibar could produce top level golfers.
Shein said that the opening of an international standard course will to a large extent contribute in restoring reputation and popularity of Zanzibar in golf. “I know that only a few people are aware that Zanzibar was among the earliest countries in Africa to have a golf course.
This course was at the Mnazi Mmoja, Mivinjeni stretching up to Maisara, Unguja Urban,” he said. President Shein also expressed his gratitude to the Sea Cliff Hotel owners for opening doors to all people in Zanzibar to use the golf course.
“The fact that this course will not be reserved for tourists and other hotel users only is good news to the golf loving community in Zanzibar,” he said and advised the citizens to continue supporting investors so that they could do great things for the benefit of all.
He stressed that it was obvious that the opening of the new course goes hand in hand with efforts being taken by his government to strengthen the tourism sector, which is the spine of the Zanzibar economy.
Shein said tourism now accounts for 80 per cent of foreign exchange and contributes 27 per cent in GDP.
He urged the hotel owners to promote the state-of-the-art golf course as well as other tourism attractions in Zanzibar for the outside world to know, saying this will help them reap the rewards from their massive investments.
He said his government will continue to protect tourists visiting the isles as well as investors and their properties. He took the opportunity to applaud South African golf expert, Peter Matkvich, for coming up with an impressive design of the new golf course.
‘Sea Cliff Resort and Spa Zanzibar’ chairman, Subhash Patel, thanked the government for the cooperation to make sure that construction of the course was a success. He believes the new venue will help to great effect to develop golf in Zanzibar.
The Sea Cliff golf course in Zanzibar officially becomes a new member of the Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) and Vice- Chairman Joseph Tango told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam last week that his union is happy to see the number of golf courses is increasing in the country.
Tango said that the Sea Cliff course is another Tanzania’s hope in the endeavour to promote and develop the game.
“They are our new member and as a national body we are very happy for the efforts taken by the Sea cliff Hotel in Zanzibar to build the modern golf course,” he said.
Other golf courses affiliated to TUG are the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, Morogoro Gymkhana Club, Arusha Gymkhana Club, Moshi Gymkhana Club, TPC Moshi Golf Club, Mufindi Golf Club, Misenyi Golf & Country Club and Kilombero Golf Club.
Source Tanzania Daily News