Mohokare Golf Classic returns richer

NTHAKO MAJORO
MASERU – The annual Nedbank Mohakare Golf Classic is set to return to action in March this year after a two-year lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement of the return to action of the Mohokare Golf Classic was made during the re-launch event held in Maseru on Wednesday this week. This is going to be the 17th edition of the Mohokare Golf Classic, played simultaneously at Maseru Golf Club and Ladybrand Golf Club. The 2022 edition will take place from March 18 to 19.
The tournament has over the years attracted golfers from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Botswana, apart from the Lesotho and South Africa based golfers. The last edition of the tournament was held in 2019 and it was won by Lesotho golfers, Motlalentoa Moloi and ’Malehloa Lekhooa in male and female categories respectively. Lekhooa defended her title after winning it for the first time in 2018.
“It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the board and management of Nedbank Lesotho to share with you that the Nedbank Mohokare Golf Classic will be returning to the local sports scene on the 18th-19th March 2022,” said Nedbank Lesotho Managing Director, Nkau Matete, at the tournament’s re-launch on Wednesday. “You may recall that in the past two years of 2020 and 2021 we did not host the Classic due to the Covid-19 pandemic which hit the region and locally starting from March 2020, the fight against which continues to impact our nation and people to the present.”
Matete further said: “We have looked at the opportunity that the Mohokare represents the country and the region and felt it is important to bring it back on the sporting calendar.” Nedbank has also increased the sponsorship by M100 000, from M250 000 to M350 000. “The last tournament was held in October 2019 which marked the 16th edition of the Classic, with Nedbank Lesotho’s direct sponsorship being M250 000, and this year we are increasing the sponsorship to M350 000 in order to accelerate the growth, quality and experience of the tournament.
“Concurrent to this is that we need to ensure appropriate ways to observe local and best practice Covid-19 regulations and protocols for the safety of our players, organisers, partnering sponsors, support teams and suppliers, and our staff members throughout the tournament,” Matete said. Chairman of the Mohokare Golf Classic Organizing Committee, Mpeake Sekhibane also said: “The Mohokare Golf Classic was initiated in 2003 to foster cross border relations both on and off the golf course and to also create an annual golfing event in Lesotho.” Sekhibane said the tournament had enjoyed the continued support from Nedbank as the main sponsors since its inception.
“The Mohokare Golf Classic has enjoyed the continued support from Nedbank Lesotho as the main sponsors since its inception, and in 2012 it was rebranded Nedbank Mohokare Golf Classic.” Sekhibane further said: “We have seen a marked increase in the number of participants annually, and this is due to the fact that the tournament is all inclusive, open to all golfers; young, old, male and female.”
According to Sekhibane, the 2019 Mohokare Golf Classic title was competed for by more than 170 golfers who were from Lesotho, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe. He said among them, 25 were female golfers and four junior golfers. But, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of competitors for this year’s tournament is not expected to be more than 150.