Nigeria’s role in the fight against the apartheid regime is the key reason that South Africa has elected to stage the yearly South African Cup, the Consul General of the South African High Commission, Prof Bobby Moroe, has said.
 
The championship is a golf competition embedded in the yearly South African Week, which is part of the country’s “Freedom and Democracy” celebration in Nigeria.
 
Speaking at the end of the championship in Lagos, at the weekend, Moroe said: “There are some countries that stood by us in our trying times and Nigeria is one of them.
 
“We are very proud of the role they played in ending apartheid in South Africa and now both nations are important economies on the continent.”
 
He described the South Africa Cup as a melting pot for businessmen and diplomats with interest in both economies and a major part of the South Africa Week celebration in Nigeria.
 
Over 100 players participated in this year’s event with top businessmen and diplomats thronging the par-72 course for a Stableford round on Sunday.
 
The event was supported by Castle Lite, Pepsi, Acutech Support Systems C.Woermann Nigeria Limited, Federal Place Hotel, Geregu Power PLC, Jungle Filmworks, Frosty Bite, 1860 Travels, Glenfiddich, Checkoff Finance Company Limited, Q-shop and Guinea Insurance.
 
Lanre Kalejaiye and Caren van Royen returned 34 and 39 Stableford points respectively to pick the men’s and women’s prizes in the one-day tournament at the golf section of Ikoyi Club 1938, in Lagos.
 
Other winners at the event include; Sanya Akindele, Dammy Oruwari, Lynda Obieze, Ankit Pir, Nitin Mehta, Kayode Oguntayo, Seyi Siwoku, JagdishJethvani, Pat Ozoemene and Morenike Nedum.
  
Also speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Crossflex International Limited, the golf event managers, Tolu Adesemowo, said, among other things, the experiences that the South African Cup creates have been unique, noting that it is the primary reason a number of brands have been throwing their weight behind it.
  
“We are honored to be in a position where we can bring value to golf and its stakeholders through elite events like this. Being in the industry for over a decade has enriched us with perspectives and experiences that make our events stand out.”