Africa-Press – Tanzania. ROMANCE met rivalry on the greens of the Sea Cliff Hotel in Zanzibar as Andrew Chung and Joe Tango delivered a masterclass performance to clinch the overall title at the Valentine’s Golf Challenge with a superb 52 points.
The victorious duo rose above a competitive field of more than 60 golfers who gathered to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a unique blend of sport, elegance and friendly competition.
Fast becoming a standout event on Zanzibar’s sports tourism calendar, the tournament once again showcased the island’s growing appeal as a premier golfing destination.
Sea Cliff Golf Vice-Captain Collins Chemngorem and Happiness Eliakim secured second place with an impressive 50 points, keeping the pressure on the eventual champions. Khalid Shemndolwa and Khadija Selemani followed in third on 48 points after a steady and composed round.
Sea Cliff Golf Captain Tazio Bercelli paired with Kamila Klepacz to claim fourth place on 47 points, while Geoffrey Banda and Temwani Banda finished fifth with 45 points. Patrick O’Rourke and Mussa Foum rounded off the top six with 44 points.
Individual brilliance also lit up the tournament. Khalid Shemndolwa captured the Nearest-to-the-Pin award, while Andrew Chung added another accolade to his name by winning the Men’s Longest Drive title. Leticia Kapalia powered her way to the Ladies’ Longest Drive honour.
Style was equally celebrated on the day, with Varga Cornel Daniel named Best Dressed Man, while Geoffrey and Temwani Banda earned admiration both on and off the course as Best Dressed Couple.
Adding a distinctive Valentine’s flair, many participants competed as husband-and-wife teams, reinforcing the tournament’s family-centred and relationship-building spirit. Golf Manager Sophie Nyanjera said the initiative was crafted to blend competition with connection.
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“We organised this tournament to bring couples closer together. Valentine’s Day is gradually losing its meaning in some communities, so through sports we are restoring its value in a unique way,” she said.
Nyanjera also called on the media to amplify coverage of the sport, emphasising that the Government of Zanzibar is prioritising sports tourism as part of its broader economic development strategy.
“The media plays a vital role in promoting this sport. By increasing coverage, we will attract more international players and grow sports tourism,” she added.
Golfers travelled from across Zanzibar and mainland Tanzania, representing clubs such as Lugalo Golf Club, Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club, Morogoro and Arusha, a testament to the tournament’s expanding footprint. Private sector collaboration further strengthened the event.
Noel Daffi of Mpola Halisi Coffee highlighted the importance of business partnerships in supporting government-led sports initiatives that attract visitors and generate national revenue. Captain Tazio Bercelli congratulated the winners and applauded participants for their sportsmanship, while commending the greenkeeping team for maintaining exceptional course conditions.
“The course was in really nice condition today and is getting better all the time,” he noted. Participants also praised the tournament for challenging outdated perceptions about golf. Khalid Ramadhan Shemndolwa of Lugalo Golf Club stressed the need for greater public awareness. “Many people believe golf is only for the wealthy, but in reality, it is a sport like any other. We need more community education to remove these misconceptions,” he said.
The successful staging of the Valentine’s Golf Challenge once again demonstrated how sport, celebration and tourism can seamlessly combine, strengthening Zanzibar’s growing reputation as one of the region’s most prom
