By Steve Oma-Ofozor,
Lagos
In what could be aptly summarised as dress rehearsal/fundraising, the Abakaliki Ladies unanimously came out in their numbers over the weekend to boost the hosting of the first ever Ladies Open Championship of the Club come November 4-7, 2021.
The fundraising event according to Enene Fonne, the Lady Captain of the Club was a huge success which simply implies the stage is certainly set for the Ladies Open Championship.
Invariably, the event’s ‘huge success’ as affirmed by the Lady Captain underscores setting the tone for a truly revolutionary women movement in golf development in Ebonyi State on a good footing; golf being a sport for everyone and a major source tourism development.
Hear the Lady Captain: “The ladies set a dress rehearsal/fundraising dinner..It was well attended by members of Abakaliki Golf Club (AGC); and flagged off the donation with six digits; the dinner lasted with several donations and plegdes that will be redeemed before the tournament.”
One could unequivocally feel the pulse of the Lady Captain giving the support and cooperation she got from the AGC members for something worth doing and well done, just as she reposed her confidence on the members to live up to expectations, “I’m opstimistic that members will sign up.’
Engr, Tony Egwu, the Captain of the Club against this backdrop has challenged members of AGC, to rise up to the occasion in support of the women to give the Club the desired elevation, attention and recognition it deserves in the golfing community.
The Captain in emotion ladened tone said, “Without the ladies in the Club, the Club will not be balanced and the excitement will be minimal.”
The Captain added, “The presence of ladies make the Club complete and exciting; the club is one; the success of the Ladies Section is the success of the entire Cub. So, I appeal that we support the ladies financially and materially to move the Club forward.”
At this juncture it is pertinent to mention that in 23 years of the AGC’s existence, one man made the establishment of the Ladies Section a dream come true as well as the greening of the course; it is the ex-Captain of the Club, Prof Brown Ejikeme, fondly called “Green Capo.”
Interestingly, the Ladies Section, SOKOnnect gathered was not established without the conviction that the AGC ladies have shown character and quality to take the mantle of leadership as it was, just as the lot fell on Enene Fonne who was already in the mainstream of the Club and proving her worth.
And Fonne in a chat with SOKOnnect said: “He (Prof Ejikeme) appreciated me for my ingeniunty and appreciated all lady golfers for the huge success in ensuring that we are enlisted nationally.”
Going forward with the seeming pleasant support coming from the men counterpart, the Lady Captain believes that the tournament would no doubt be a worth memorable event.
“I’m opstimistic that members will not only sign up, but would want to ensure the tournament succeed,” just as she added with regards to participating guests saying, “virtually everyone will love to have a taste of our long grain Abakaliki rice.”
The Lady Captain concluded on an appealing note to all prospective participants to register for the event, “I’m using this opportunity to ask men and women to sign up and make it a date with us in thus historic event.”
Registration for the tournament however, is ongoing with commensurable response that is hoped to hike exponentially before the close of October.
Indeed, November 4-7 seemed far, but like a vehicle light on the mirror, it is very near as the tempo of preparations must remain heightened to live the dream of a worth memorable tournament.
