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Takudzwa Chitsiga

Sports Reporter

CLIVE Nguru (Jnr), a long-time rival to professional golfer Scott Vincent, believes the Zimbabwean representative at the Tokyo Olympic Games has the potential to do well when he tees off tomorrow morning at Kasumigaseki Country Club.

Vincent, is expected to carry the country’s hopes in the same Asian nation where, together with Nguru, they played in the World Amateur Team Golf Championship in the Japanese City of Karuizawa back in 2014.

The duo were part of the championships also known as the Eisenhower Trophy, a biennial amateur team golf championships which are organised by the International Golf Federation. Nguru, who was now into golf teaching before the national lockdown, was tipped to be one of the best up and coming players when he gave Vincent the much-needed competition ever since their junior and amateur competitions.

The Hatfield-based professional says somehow he lost it along the way but still believes Vincent can pull off a surprise at the Tokyo Olympic Games. ‘‘I am very proud of him. You know growing up it was interesting when we battled it out in the local events and we also had the opportunity to represent the country together on several occasions.

“We played together as juniors and it was a tense battle with me Scott, Stuart Krog, Christian Mbanga, Nyasha Muyambo, Travis Smith and Dumisani Chitengwa, among several others. It was until the last day that you would know who the champion will be as we were so competitive,’’ said Nguru.

The son of the late former top professional golfer, Clive Nguru (Snr), is hopeful that his favourite sport will be back anytime soon so that they can take to the course again.

“We are just hopeful that one day we will get back to business. There are several good players out there but Scott was exceptional and I wish him all the best.

“It is every athlete’s dream to make it big and for Scott to be the first ever Zimbabwean to represent the country at the Olympic Games speaks highly of his talent.

Nguru has taken solace in golf teaching and is taking on some prominent players like Tapiwa Mashamhanda who just started the sport recently and he said he has faith in the 30-year-old.

“Clive has been helpful to me. He took me through some lessons before the lockdown and I was enjoying the sport before the lockdown. I know he will bounce back once things normalise,” said Mashamhanda.