By Erik Chiputula:
The Professional Golfers Association of Malawi (PGAMW) has announced the postponement of the Warm Heart Pro-Tournament 2022 slated for next month, September.
PGAMW president Patridge Shycal confirmed the development saying “We regret to announce the postponement of the Warm Heart Tournament 2022 which was slated for 08th September 2022.”
According to Shycal, the decision has been made after failing to source enough funds for the hosting of the tournament despite all their efforts to call for financial partners.
The body was looking to raise not less than MK120 million for the prize funds of the tournament.
Reacting to the news, one of the prolific golfers in the country Paul Chidale has described the development as the setback.
“You know we have been preparing for it for the past months and now with only few weeks to go we are hearing so it’s sad indeed.
“It’s a setback because from such tournaments we learn alot, we expose ourselves and again we make history”
The tournament was last played in it’s inaugural year back in November 2018 and was expected to return this year from 7th to 11th November.
The PGAMW was expected to run the tournament with the support from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife as per memorundum of understanding signed in October 2020, in which Government agreed to be supporting the annual Professional Golf Tournament dubbed “The Warm Heart Pro-Tournament” after realizing the positive impacts the tournament has to the nation.
According to the PGAMW, this year’s tournament was supposed to run under the theme “Respect The Green” which derives from Goal 15 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), which advocates for “the protection, restoration a promotion. of Sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems; and sustainable management of forests, combat desertification; halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss”.
The body revealed in the past their desire to invite the state President Lazarus Chakwera as guest of honor to the tournament.
