NGF warns against unauthorised tournaments

The Nigeria Golf Federation (NGF) has advised anybody or group that wants to organise tournaments in the country to liaise with the golf body, warning it would no longer tolerate ‘arbitrary junior golf tournaments’ without recourse to due process.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent spate of junior tournaments in the country, NGF Director of Youth Development, Emmy Ekong, said it was unfortunate that some unscrupulous individuals had resorted to using junior tournaments not sanctioned by the federation for visa racketeering.

“The Federation has discovered in recent times that people who are not even golfers will conspire with some golf organisations to organise junior tournament with a view to sending the kids abroad.

“That is wrong and it is annoying that people could flout rules and regulations of the game even as it is imperative that rules must be obeyed if the game must move forward in any clime.

“Such acts bring the game to disrepute and culprits will be not be spared by the NGF, they will be made to face the wrath of the law under child trafficking act,” she warned.

The Youth Director, who was a two-time captain of Ikeja Golf Club, Ladies Section, however, advised that, “The Lady Golfers Association of Nigeria (LGAN) is another organ that is in charge of junior golf programmes that must also be fully briefed of such development.