SPORTS Minister, Chishimba Kambwili has urged the golfing fraternity across Zambia to strive to maintain their golf clubs in good conditions and avoid letting such sports facilities slide into dilapidation.
Kambwili said in Kitwe that golf officials should not neglect their clubs like the case was in Luanshya where Roan Antelope Golf Club was not being maintained.
He said the Roan case should serve as a warning to all clubs because lack of maintenance could even attract domestic animals to start feeding on the golf course.
Kambwili paid tribute to Mopani Copper Mines for the massive investment they had done on Nkana Golf Club in Kitwe.
He said the way Mopani had beautified Nkana was impressive and challenged other mining firms on the Copperbelt to emulate such a gesture.
The minister said apart from golf clubs, there was also need for the mine owners on the Copperbelt to consider improving other sport infrastructure in the region like the former mining conglomerate, ZCCM used to do.
“All mining firms on the Copperbelt should take a leaf from Mopani and improve sports infrastructure like it was in ZCCM’s time,” Kambwili said.
Apart from doing a makeover at Nkana Golf Club, Mopani has also upgraded Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, the home of Zambia’s football league champions, Nkana.
The mining firm is also working on uplifting the face of the dilapidated Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
And Kambwili has promised to start playing golf after the Africa Golf Confederation (AGC) president, Joe Malanji handed him a Callaway golf bag worth R37,000 (about K23,680).
Kambwili said he would soon take to the golf course and begin shaping up his skills before he can start swinging in tournaments.
AGC donated a golf kit bag to Kambwili as a way of appreciating his efforts in the development of Zambian sport.
Times of Zambia