THE Professional Golfers’ Association of Nigeria (PGAN) has described as a rude shock, the death of its Honorary Life President, Anthony Eromosele Enahoro, at the age of 87.
Also the Senate President, David Mark, has paid glowing tribute to the deceased for his selfless contributions to the development of the game of golf in Nigeria.
After the introduction of the game into the country by the colonialists, Enahoro was reputed to be one of the first Nigerians to take to it. This was after he, as a minister, in the then Western Regional Government got attracted to it on a visit to the United Kingdom. He got his first six lessons in the game at the famous Simpson’s Pro Shop in London and thereafter played his first round of golf.
So strong was his interest in the game that he inspired many other Nigerians to take to the “Gentleman’s game”.
Apart from inspiring amateur players, he, in 1969 facilitated the establishment of the professional circuit in the country as he was instrumental to Nigeria Tobacco Company (NTC) sponsorship of four caddies: Jamiu Oyebajo, Patrick Okpomu, Emmanuel Lawrence and Festus Majekodunmi, abroad for professional training. The four were picked after they put up sterling performances in the first all-caddies tournament at Ikoyi Club 1938.
From the four professional players raised by NTC now British-America Tobacco, Nigeria has over 140 golfers playing professionally.
It was in recognition of this and his many other contributions to the development of professional golf in particular and the game in general that the PGAN bestowed on him, the Honorary Life President of the body.
According to Oyebajo, who is now the Director of PGAN, “We received with shock, the death of Chief Anthony Enahoro, an elder statesman and the father of golf in Nigeria. He had a great influence and contributed immensely to the development of the game of golf in the country.
“As a body, we are going to miss him dearly because he was our Honorary Life President. Personally, I will miss him because of the contribution he made to my becoming a professional golfer”.
Oyebajo, who said history would be kind to the deceased, added that plans were afoot for the body to be actively involved in the burial rites of their statesman.
In extolling Enahoro’s virtues, Senate President, David Mark said the death of the frontline nationalist and elder statesman was a huge loss to Nigeria and the black race even as he also attributed him as being the brain behind the introduction of the game into the country.
“As a fellow golfer, I will personally miss him. Enahoro introduced the game of golf in Nigeria. The game is making positive impact in the sports arena. We owe him a lot of gratitude,” he said.
Source:http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/
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