Thinking for Future

Thoughts they say precedes action. And the way events come to us unprepared most time questions the quality of our thinking.This is about our team to Kenya that crashed out before the event got to its peak last weekend. I felt both sorry and sad for them, because it again dawned on us that we may be losing our edge so soon and our very best are not at their best anymore.

One of the players, Gboyega Oyebanji (pix above) was a celebrated talent in 2004 (just seven years back) when he, at a very young age impressed the Sunshine Tour where he sojourned to for over one season.


I was with him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where he doffed his second shot (using a rescue) to hand the now celebrated Molinari brothers (Franceso and Eduardo) their qualification to the Golf World Cup that year (Ah! Golf World Cup? Well now you know).

 Nigeria was described that year as the “wonder team” of the event and you can guess who the wonder boys are? It is Oyebanji and his partner, Oche Odoh. For some us it was the manifestation of a rebuilding that started after the 2001 visa scam that shook our golf to the roots.

 Now the story is of how he flunked a second round last week.


So how did we get here and where do go from here?



For me, our golf dipped while it was yet blossoming-in 2005. They year private sponsors pull the plug on the South African training programme for the talented amateurs; which has served as a conduit for the talented players.


Name any of the top ten player in the country who was not a product of that system;, perhaps one or two, they literally floated like helium bags on the order of merit.


As painful as it may sound, we will have to start a long rebuilding process. You don’t stumble on success and the Nigerian golf community should not expect to produce world beaters from this jagged system that we slide into after 2005. ( I dare say that we appear to be sliding further in some aspects- we should discuss in subsequent edition)


We have a couple of players that can still show up but, I can bet none of them is built to break into the top 100 where, I personally believe our athletism and the skill I have seen Nigerian youth display in golf can earn us, legitimately.


Good enough, Im consoled when I hear the plots at the IBB Golf club to raise “poultry” for hatching youngsters with international partnership of the world governing body R&A. Ikoyi and new Captain Frank Gboneme are also wooing the Young Master Golf (YMG)- so I learnt.


At least some one is looking five-ten years away. Which we did not do some year’s back (don’t ask who should have- I honestly don’t have an answer now. But if you look well, you will know why)


Meanwhile, In Kenya, like I said last week I think for the caliber of players that was showing up (European Challenge Tour), some of us knew what might happen before it did.


Before we wrap this week up let us talk about the Masters, the year’s first major. I think this is the year everyone should be very careful with their bet. My odds don’t favor Tiger too, but I won’t rule out a surprise. A lot of people are saying it Mickelson, but my guts tells me it is going to be an European party by Sunday.


Finally, let me say a big congrats to Chubby and his players that survived an air accident on their way to Augusta.