Two-time Magical Kenya Ladies Open winner Esther Henseleit of the Hamburger Golf club, Germany, will be looking to make it three wins on the trot as she leads a strong field of 96 players, confirmed for the 2023 edition at the PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge on 2-5 February 2023.

The 24-year-old German will be joined by Marta Sanz Barrio of Spain, Linnea Strom of Sweden and Sophie Hausmann of Germany, who finished in the top five positions last year.

Defending champion Esther Henseleit spoke of her return:

“I’m looking forward to returning to Kenya and defending my title. It’s a special place for me because it’s where I won my first professional tournament and I’ve always found there’s a great atmosphere with many friendly faces. A great way to start the season!”

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open will have a prize fund of €300,000, and will be the first in a series of 39 events on the Ladies European Tour 2023 calendar – the most fixtures ever held on the Tour. Spectators will be encouraged to attend the 4-day event and cheer on the professional players.

The field will also feature five Kenyan golfers, led by Naomi Wafula and Mercy Nyanchama who will be playing in their third tournament, Nancy Wairimu will be making her second appearance at Vipingo with Chanelle Wangari and Jacqueline Walter making their debuts.

The action is set to kick off on Wednesday 1st February with a Pro-Am tournament, before the field of 96 takes on the Vipingo Ridge course over four rounds, to crown the winner on Sunday 5th February.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.

16-year-old Titianna Atieno from Vipingo Village has received a golf handicap of 14 just two years after picking up a golf club for the first time during the junior golf clinic run by the Ladies European Tour at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County, in December 2019.

One of a group of 20 students from Future Hope Montessori School in Vipingo, Titianna was invited to try her golf skill under the instruction of the professional players as part of the on-site activities during the inaugural Magical Kenya Ladies Open. From that moment, Titianna developed a love for the game and, as part of Vipingo Ridge’s CSR program, began to train twice a week at the exclusive PGA Academy with close mentorship from PGA Professional and Director of Golf Saleem Haji.

At the 2022 Magical Kenya Ladies Open, Titianna received further guidance from her golf idols, the Ladies European Tour players, during the second edition of the junior golf clinic held at the PGA Academy in February.

Alexandra Swayne from the US Virgin Islands was one of the Ladies European Tour players taking the clinic in 2022 and she commented “It was good to teach the kids and show them that no matter where you are or where you come from, it’s good to stick with golf.”

Gabrielle Macdonald from Scotland added “Hopefully we have inspired the kids to play more golf and to enjoy it. It’s great to have role models and have this event in the country to hopefully grow the game.”

Luiza Altman likened it to her own experience “I started in one of these programs in Brazil and I’m really hoping to see some of these Kenyan junior players playing on the tour soon. That would be really exciting.”

Since taking her KCPE exams in November, she spent every day of the school holiday practising, playing on the PGA Baobab Course and working out at the gym. As a result, her performance improved considerably and she has now been awarded an official handicap of 14.

Titianna is the only child of Doreen Rotieh, a single mother who runs a small vegetable kiosk in Vipingo Village. Recognising the potential that the sport has to broaden her horizons, Titanna is dedicated to her golf and looking forward to 2023’s golf clinic with the Tour later this week.

It is hoped that Titianna’s commitment and talent will see her rise as a strong player on the tournament circuit and become a national success story, perhaps taking her place alongside Naomi Wafula, Chanelle Wangari, Mercy Nyanchama and other Kenyan players at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open 2024.

Speaking about her journey, Director of Golf Saleem Haji said “Titianna is a fantastic student and I have personally enjoyed working with her every week at the PGA Academy. Her skill has grown considerably in a short space of time and I’m really proud of how fast she’s improving. Golf can be a doorway out of poverty and we hope to see her go from strength to strength, doing well at competitions, travelling with the game, and showing other Kenyans what can be achieved through this sport.”

This year, another 12 of Future Hope Montessori School’s students will attend 2023’s junior golf clinic with the Ladies European Tour in a bid to find the next star trainee with the same talent, tenacity and vision of Titianna.

The clinic is scheduled to take place on Saturday 4^th February. The Magical Kenya Ladies Open begins on 2^nd February with 96 players set to take on the challenge of the PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.

The action at the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open is set to tee off tomorrow on the par-72 PGA Baobab course at Vipingo Ridge, with the Pro-Am tournament taking center stage.

The Pro-Am, which has attracted a field of 152 players including 74 professionals, begins at 7:00AM with the likes of 24-year-old Ana Pelaez Trivino of Spain, defending champion Esther Henseleit and Pia Babnik, the highest ranked player at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, set to be the main attractions among the professionals.

As for the amateurs, Avani Prashanth of India, 96th on the World Amateur rankings, and the Kenyan duo of fast rising juniors, Mariam Mwakitawa and Rohini Shah, will be taking their place on the field. Former Kenya Sevens rugby star Lavin Asego will also be competing, having made the switch from the rugby pitch to the golf course five years ago.

U.COM Event Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg said:

“The Pro-Am is a great opportunity for the professionals to get a last feel of the course before the tournament tees off. It is also a great chance for the amateurs to measure up their game against the professionals. We have a very exciting mix for this year’s event, which should set the stage for a great week of golf.”

The main championship tournament starts on Thursday 2nd February with a field of 96 players, including six amateurs. The full field will play for two days before the cut which will determine the players that will play through the weekend to crown the 2023 Magical Kenya Open Ladies winner on Sunday.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.

The National Olympic Committee has appointed Shadrack Maluki as the CDM to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The announcement was made by the Cabinet Secretary Sports, Hon. Ababu Namwamba at the Kenya National Library Services on 30^th January 2023

With 543 days to what will be its 18^th appearance at the Games, NOC-K has handed over the lead team names to the Cabinet Secretary with a promise- Delivering exceptional Results.

 “This is a position you should all hold with great responsibility.  We look forward to working with integrity and principles of governance. To ensure we deliver one of the best organized and managed teams. We had a meeting this morning with the previous management and the new team and we can confidently say, the ship has disembarked.” Said Dr. Paul Tergat.

Maluki, who is the president of the Judo federation, who was recently elected as the Chairman of the continental federation, reflected on the past performance at the Tokyo Games where Kenya bagged four gold, four silver and two bronze medals. He is optimistic that Team Kenya will surpass that historic performance under his leadership as he picks from former CDM Waithaka Kioni.

The Cabinet Secretary applauded NOC-K for constituting the management team 18 months in advance adding this is the direction National Sports bodies and federations should follow.

“Kenya’s road to Paris 2024 has hit the superhighway and I want to thank Tergat and his team for accelerating the preparations for the games,” said Namwamba, adding that other members of the lead team and those in the Steering Committee will be made public soon.”

NOC-K has also announced the Chief Executive Officer as Wanjiru Karani. The former tennis player is also a Secretary General Tennis Kenya and holds a level II Coaches Certificate and an Executive Masters in Sports Organization Management (MEMOS)

“My working philosophy is founded on the Values of sport- Fair Play, Respect, Friendship, courage and equity. My role is key in leading the secretariat and the Games Management in ensuring the dreams of our athletes are actualized. We are the backbone of good performance at the Games. Performance starts at preparation.”

The General Team Manager is Dimmy Kisalu. The Athletics Kenya National Vice-Treasurer has been team Manager to Africa Games, Maputo 2011, Congo 2015, Morocco 2019. He was also the World Cross Country Team Manager Japan 2003 and 2006.

“I am humbled and excited to be appointed at the GTM. I will work with all team managers to ensure we are aligned and ready to support our athletes’ dreams of being Olympians.” He spoke.

The Chief Medical Officer is James Odenge. The former Mwamba Rugby Club is the Medical Officer Kenya Rugby Union and has World Rugby Level III Medical Accreditation.

“I hope to manage Player Welfare adequately and effectively. I hold the opinion; a happy player is a successful player. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. We’re also going in, knowing we have to maneuver the doping menace currently in the country. So, I’ll be working closely with ADAK and helping the management with athlete well-being.”

James has been a Member Rugby Africa Player Welfare Steering Committee (2022- ) Medical Officer Team Kenya Commonwealth Games 2022, Chief Medical Officer (Local) Africa Deaflympics Ball Games Qualifiers Men & Women, Nairobi, 2021 and Member MOSCH Committee on Return to Play in sports during COVID 2020.

NOC-K explained that it has this lead team early enough so that we can focus on preparing more athletes and teams to qualify.

Mutuku explained that it is the qualification path that will enable them to get athletes to make it.

“Qualification for almost everyone has started and the peak period is between now and March next year,”said Mutuku, adding that they will know how many team sports will have qualified by December this year.

The cut off in most disciplines will be March next year, except for athletics that will be in June next year, Boxing will be among the first with qualifications expected in Tunis, this year.

KCB has put Kshs. 5 million into this year’s Magical Kenya Ladies Open golf tournament. The four-day event will take place at the 18-hole PGA Baobab Course, Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County from February 2-5^th, 2023. 

The tournament has attracted 96 professional lady golfers from all over the world including defending champion German International, Esther Henseleit. 

KCB Group Director Marketing and Communications Rosalind Gichuru said: “At the heart of our community engagement is sports sponsorship as it not only builds the careers of sportsmen and women but also a driver of our socio-economic wellbeing. 

The Magical Kenya Ladies Open is a good platform for our Kenyan golfers to participate in international competitions which thus puts Kenya on the global map as a sports powerhouse.”  

“We are glad to note that the number of local players has increased to five this year, and look forward to cheering them on in the coming week.” She added.

The Kenyan lady golfers who will be participating in this year’s edition include Naomi Wafula, Mercy Nyanchama, Nancy Wairimu, Chanelle Wangari and Jacquelyne Walters in the inaugural showpiece in the series of 39 events on the Ladies European Tour Calendar of 2023.

On his part, U.COM Event Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg said: 

“We are grateful for KCB Bank’s support for the upcoming 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open. Their dedication to promoting sports in Kenya is truly admirable and we are honored to have them as a sponsor.” 

“We appreciate their invaluable contributions to the success of this tournament. The 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open promises to be an exciting and thrilling event, featuring some of the world’s top female golfers competing for the coveted trophy. Fans can expect to see top-notch golfing action, beautiful scenery, and a great atmosphere. We invite all golf enthusiasts to come and join us at the tournament, cheer on your favorite players and be a part of this unforgettable event. It’s truly a magical experience not to be missed.”

Apart from the Magical Kenya Ladies Open, KCB Bank will be supporting the Safari Tour golf series with a KES 1 Million sponsorship, towards the last two legs set for Karen Country Club and Muthaiga Golf Club, on the 4th – 8th and 18th – 22nd of February, respectively.

The Safari Tour is a regional professional golf series aimed at preparing players for the Magical Kenya Open, which will take place on 9th – 12th March 2023.

In addition, KCB Bank will also be supporting the Corporate Citizens of Africa (CCA) Sustainability Golf tournament, which will be held at the Muthaiga Golf Club on 30th January – 3rd February 2023.

The tournament is aimed at driving corporate sustainability across Africa, and will involve a variety of activities, including a Caddies’ welfare day, culminating with a corporate golf tournament on Friday the 3rd 2023.  

“Our involvement in these two events underlines our commitment to support the sport of golf in the country. On one hand, we have the Safari Tour which prepares our pro golfers for the Magical Kenya Open, and on the other, the CCA Sustainability Golf Tournament, which aligns with our Sustainability agenda and our commitment to building a brand that is not only focused on profits but on customers and the communities we serve.” said Mrs. Gichuru. 

The 2023 edition of the Magical Kenya Ladies Open (MKLO) has received a massive boost after the East African Breweries PLC (EABL) announced a Ksh. 15 Million sponsorship towards the tournament.

The move has seen the company acquire the rights to be the tournament’s Official Alcoholic Beverages partner and will activate its sponsorship through its iconic premium spirits brand, Johnnie Walker.

According to EABL, the sponsorship is in line with  the brand’s Keep Walking philosophy which aligns with the tournament’s mission of promoting gender diversity and inclusion by encouraging individuals to take bold actions and strive for progress in creating a more inclusive and equal sports industry.

At the event, EABL will be looking to provide a memorable experience to both the fans and players during the four-day Ladies European Tour (LET) tournament slated for 2^nd – 5^th February at the 18-hole PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi County. The tournament is the only LET-sanctioned women’s professional golf competition in the East African region.

Speaking during the sponsorship announcement, EABL Marketing and Innovations Director Anne-Joy Michira said that the move is part of the company’s broader commitment towards supporting women’s inclusivity in society, with the MKLO presenting a perfect opportunity to showcase its support for women’s sports.

 “We are very delighted to once again announce our partnership with the Magical Kenya Ladies Open. This sponsorship is a renewal of our enduring relationship with this premier tournament that boasts as the only professional women’s golf tournament in the East African region. Johnnie Walker is a long-time supporter of the sport of golf and this is therefore a continuation of our commitment to the sport in the country. We shall be looking to add life to the tournament through a range of activities that we shall be carrying out including providing entertainment at the village for the fans,” said Michira.

She added that the partnership is in line with EABL’s diversity and inclusion agenda: “As a company, we are also very committed to championing inclusivity in the sports arena across all fields, and therefore by sponsoring the Ladies Open, we’re hoping it will go a long way in supporting the lady golfers and empowering them to compete and grow to the next level of their career. We, therefore, look forward to the tournament and hope it will turn out to be the best,” she added.

On his part, U.COM Event Managing Director Dirk Glittenberg said: “We are thrilled to welcome Johnnie Walker as a sponsor of the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open. Their commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in sports aligns perfectly with the values of our tournament, and we are honored to have their support. Together, we will work to make the game of golf more inclusive and accessible for all. Fans can expect the best of the Johnnie Walker experience, including entertainment and we welcome everyone to come and enjoy the tournament. We are currently making final preparations for the event and we hope to have a great tournament.”

The 72-hole stroke play competition has proven a significant milestone in the sport’s history in Kenya. This year, the three-day tournament has attracted 96 professional lady golfers from across the World, including defending champion Germany’s Esther Henseleit.

The Kenyan flag will be flown by Naomi Wafula, Mercy Nyanchama, Nancy Wairimu, Chanelle Wangari and Jacquelyne Walters at the tournament which will be the first in a series of 39 events on the Ladies European Tour 2023 calendar – the most fixtures ever held on the Tour.

The Kenyan team will be looking to make a much stronger performance at the tournament than last year. The latest Kenyan entrant Jacquelyne Walter who has been based at Vipingo Ridge since its inception has been called up to the tournament, her first major competition.

Commenting on her participation, she said: “I am thrilled to have been invited by U.COM to participate in the Magical Kenya Ladies Open 2023 and to join four other talented Kenyan golfers in the tournament. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to showcase my skills on a global stage and to represent my country with pride. I am putting in the hard work and dedication to prepare for the tournament. I am focusing on my game, physical and mental strength, and working on strategies to give my best performance. I am honored to be a part of this tournament and I am determined to make my country proud.”

The tournament will be preceded by a Pro-Am set for 1^st February where Kenya’s amateur golfers will team up with the professionals to battle it out in a friendly game before the main event.

Naomi Wafula and Mercy Nyanchama will be making their third appearance at the tournament, having featured in the 2019 and 2022 editions, while 16-year-old Chanelle Wangari will be featuring for the second time. Meanwhile, Nancy Wairimu will be making her maiden appearance at the tournament.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.

Vipingo’s resident golfer Jacqueline Walter has termed her inclusion in the 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open “a dream come true”. This will be her international tournament debut as she takes her place among the player field of 96 for the season opener of the Ladies European Tour from 2^nd to 5^th February 2023 at the Par-72 PGA Baobab Course at Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County.

The 28 year-old who plays golf and works at Vipingo Ridge said, “Playing at the Magical Kenya Ladies Open is a dream come true. I am pretty nervous but also extremely proud and happy to have reached my target which was to get my handicap low enough to qualify and get invited to play in this prestigious tournament.”

Walter joins four other Kenyans: Naomi Wafula, Mercy Nyanchama, Chanelle Wangari and Nancy Wairimu.

Speaking on what it means to play at the event, Jacqueline highlighted the importance of such a tournament, not only for her but for women’s golf in the country. “Playing here means a lot to me and women’s golf in Kenya. It helps us to hone our skills against the best in the world. On a personal level, it is proof that if you work hard and don’t give up, anything is possible.”

The 2023 Magical Kenya Ladies Open will feature a total of 96 players from all over the world, including two-time winner Esther Henseleit of Germany, her German counterpart Sophie Hausmann, Spain’s Marta Sanz, and Linnea Strom of Sweden, who are expected to lead the title charge at Vipingo.

Speaking on her preparations to face the likes of Esther and the rest of the field, Walter said that it has been a continuous process. “My preparations are really a continuation of my normal practice routine, but I am focusing a lot on my short game, my physical and mental strength, and working on strategies to give my best performance.”

On what she expects to achieve at the tournament, Walter was grounded, “I would of course love to make the cut, but I have limited experience in tournament golf, so the main priority will be to do my best and try to make playing with these fabulous women golfers on tour an enjoyable experience.”

Finally, Jacqueline called upon Kenyans to come out in large numbers and support the home golfers as they take on the world, “I want to urge all Kenyans to come out and support us as we take on the world from 2nd to 5th February and also enjoy the world class hospitality at Vipingo Ridge.”

The action is set to kick off on Wednesday 1st February with a Pro-Am tournament, before the field of 96 takes on the PGA Baobab Golf Course over four rounds to crown the winner on Sunday 5th February.

Spectators can purchase tickets to the four-day tournament through the online platform www.ticketsasa.com which are retailing for KES 500 per day.

Reigning FKF Premier League championsTusker Football Club has announced that Eric Ngava, a graduate of the Tusker FC academy, has been named the player of the month for January 2023.

The offensive midfielder received an impressive 72% of the total votes from the technical bench, teammates, and fans. Since joining the senior squad in 2019, Eric has been impressive with his exceptional skills as a creative and speedy winger, selfless attitude, and ability to change the game.

Since the start of the season, Ngava has played a total of 517 minutes in 8 matches and provided two assists. His performances have been outstanding, and it’s no surprise that he has been recognized for his efforts.

Speaking during an event held at Utalii Hotel on Friday, Tusker FC Ag. CEO Sam Nzau congratulated Eric on his win and said, “We are proud of Eric’s achievements and we wish him and the team continued success for the rest of the season. Our commitment to the team doesn’t stop here, we will continue to support the team and invest in its development to ensure that we maintain our position as one of the top teams in the league.”

Eric Ngava said, “I am honored to have been named the player of the month. I am committed to continuing performing well for the team and hope for a successful season. I would like to thank my teammates, the technical bench, and the fans for their support. The team’s performance has been outstanding, and we believe that with the support of our fans, we will continue to achieve more success in the coming months.”

Tusker FC currently sits top of the premier league table with 24 points after 11 matches, edging Nzoia Sugar on goal difference who have played one more match. Tusker will return to FKF Premier League this weekend with a catch-up match against Kenya Police.