Footgolf, a sport that ingeniously combines the power of football with the precision of golf, is gaining traction in Zimbabwe.
Imagine kicking a football across a golf course, aiming for a large hole, and the player who gets the ball in with the fewest kicks wins.
That's footgolf in a nutshell!
The sport's name perfectly captures its essence 'foot'from football and 'golf' from, well, golf.
The concept of footgolf began to take root in Zimbabwe around 2022, shortly after the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pioneers of the sport saw the potential in utilising existing golf courses, like Sherwood in Harare, to host both traditional golf and new footgolf tournaments.
The Zimbabwe Footgolf Association (ZFGA) was officially recognised by the Federation of International FootGolf (FIFG) last year, allowing the country to compete on the international stage.
As a relatively new association, the ZFGA made its international debut in South Africa, facing a defeat but gaining valuable experience.
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This March, they participated in a tournament in Zambia, securing second place behind South Africa.
Footgolf's popularity is growing within Zimbabwe, with domestic tournaments now being held.
A recent example is the Mvurwi Mashonaland Central Patron's Footgolf Tournament, held on May 25, which even saw participation from a Zambian player.
Despite this progress, the sport faces significant challenges, primarily related to limited media coverage and funding.
ZFGA president Daniel Kuwengwa, highlighted these issues to the Sports Hub.
"The reason footgolf seemed to be unpopular is due to coverage. The media doesn't cover footgolf like it does to other sports," he said.
"Funding is another major hurdle, not just for footgolf but for many sports in Zimbabwe.
However, the ZFGA has secured support from various local sponsors.
Dronisport has been instrumental in supporting capacity development workshops nationwide by covering transport and accommodation.
Zimnat sponsored the Gweru tournament last October, while Say-What has supported Harare for two consecutive years.
Additionally, Remembrance has assisted the Midlands region, and Sherwood Golf Club has provided a dedicated footgolf course.
The ZFGA is committed to making footgolf accessible to everyone, from grassroots levels to national competitions, ensuring no discrimination.
This vision is actively being implemented through partnerships with the National Association of Primary Heads (NAPH) and the National Association of School Heads (NASH).
Since 2024, footgolf has been introduced in various schools. The goal is for this hybrid sport to be integrated into all primary schools by the end of 2025, with full competitive participation expected by 2026.
Kuwengwa explained that 2025 is a capacity building year for trainings, and by 2026, competitions will commence across all NAPH districts.
Zimbabwe is set to host a five-day international tournament in November. Leading up to this, several local competitions are scheduled such as provincial tournaments on July 26th, a national tournament from August 20t and 21 in Bulawayo at Harry Allen Golf Club, serving as the final qualifier for the November 20 to 25 tournament in Victoria Falls.
With its unique blend of athleticism and strategy, footgolf is steadily making its mark on the Zimbabwean sporting landscape.
