Nico Life golf: Mvalo earns himself bragging rights

Lilongwe based golfer Frank Mvalo earned himself bragging rights when he won this year’s Nico Life Invitational Golf tournament played on Saturday, July 18 at the country’s premier golf course of Lilongwe Golf Club (LGC).

Boasting of handicap 15, Mvalo emerged top in a field of 84 golfers from LGC and other sister clubs after accumulating 36 stable ford points.

Uncharacteristic of most champions, who go to the podium only to thank sponsors and playing partners, Mvalo was well composed in his victory speech.

“I will not be brief neither will I be in a hurry because this is my night to brag. First things first, I wish to thank Nico Life for sponsoring this tournament and the wonderful prizes.

“Let me also recognise my playing partners- Thandor Sibindi, Charles Mvula and Gershom Chima, who unfortunately did not finish the tournament after suffering a strained uncle. I came to play golf but my colleagues came to play with the golf ball. I look forward to defending my title when Nico Life comes back next year,” said Mvalo, a member of the LGC Earn Your Barraging Rights (EBR) club.

Frank Chinkhandwe completed a ‘Frank’s night after counting out Peter Mtema on 36 points to finish second. Mtema settled for third position with veteran golfer Clement Chilingulo finishing on fourth position with 34 points.

Patridge Shycal and William Chimpeni shared the Longest Drive and Nearest-the-pin respectively.

The ladies’ section was won by Maria Lee Cho on 34 points. Like husband like wife, Sheila Chinkhandwe came second in the women category after counting out third-placed Regina Mwanza on 33 points.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Nico Life’s Chief Operating Officer Gerald Chima expressed happiness with the patronage. He also thanked LGC golf captain Justice Ken Manda and his team for running the tournament efficiently.

There was jubilation amongst the golfers when the company’s Chief Executive Officer Karim Osman declared Nico Life would be back with another tournament next year. Osman also presented a K200,000 cheque to LGC for green maintenance.

Twist

After the prize presentation, the tournament took a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) twist when Nico asked the champion Frank Mvalo to present a donation of K250,000 to Comfort Orphan, Disability and Elderly Ministry of Lilongwe.

The Ministry was recently struck by a fire disaster, which claimed lives of four children based at its home in Msundwe.

As director of the Ministry Pastor Elnard Banda, who received the donation narrated the sad story, golfers were gripped with sorrow. The pastor, who also lost his 10-year-old third-born son during the accident said the fire was mysterious and that he is still failing to come to terms with what happened on that fateful day.

He hailed Nico Life for the donation, which he described as the hand of God.

As Mvalo presented the K250,000 cheque, he solicited an additional K50,000 sun of money from his fellow EBR members making it K300,000.

That was not all from Nico Life. The company donated another K250,000 to Landirani Trust, also of Lilongwe through the champion.

The donation was received by the Trust’s director Isa Mwangala, who also expressed gratitude to the insurance company.

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