Absa Bank Pumps Sh60 Million As Five Past Champions Confirm Magical Kenya Open Participation
Absa Bank Kenya MD & CEO Abdi Mohamed signs the cheque for the sponsorship of the Magical Kenya Open where the bank committed a sponsorship of KES. 60 million towards Magical Kenya Open set to take place from February 20 – 23, 2025. Looking on are (L-R) Absa Bank Kenya Consumer Banking Director Moses Muthui, Magical Kenya Open Tournament Director Patrick Obath, State Department of Sports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum, Kenya Open Golf Limited Chairman Peter Kanyago, and Absa Bank Kenya CFO Yusuf Omari. PHOTO/ ABSA BANK KENYA
NAIROBI, Kenya- The 2025 Magical Kenya Open (MKO) golf championship slated for Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi on February 20-23 will be a cutthroat affair following entries of solid five past champions who will battle it out for the lucrative USD 2.5 Million (Sh322 Million) purse money on offer.
On Monday, Absa Bank Kenya sunk Sh60 Million into the global championship that has attracted 144 players from across the world.
“Sh40 Million will go towards the organization and preparations of the event. Sh20 Million will be used for media, branding and publicity,” Absa Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Abdi Mohamed told Standard Sports during the high-level media press conference in Nairobi.
Darius Van Driel of Netherlands will be present this year to defend his MKO title he won at the championship Muthaiga golf course last season.
However, the impressive Dutchman is facing stiff opposition from four other past winners who are already plotting to dethrone him from the crown.
Among them is Jorge Campillo of Spain who triumphed in the tournament in 2023. Campillo lost the crown by a whisker to Driel in a tense challenge at Muthaiga last year.
The 2021 double champion (MKO and Savannah Classic) Justin Harding of South Africa will be on the course to forage for a triple title on Kenyan soil.
Also in the mix is the 2019 MKO and Challenger Tour winner Guido Miggliozi of Italy as well as the 2018 MKO champion Sebastian Soderberg of Sweden who will also take a stab on the Meet.
“We are happy to be part of this great championship that is also marketing Kenya as a global sports tourism destination. Through our theme, ‘Beyond the Swing’, we are hopeful to get stories from the tournament that will go beyond the pitch, those pieces that inspire and motivate Kenyans to be resilient in their daily endeavors.
“We also pledge to continue supporting golf and other sports to help our sportsmen and women realise their dreams,” Absa Bank Kenya Consumer Banking Director Moses Muthui noted.
Away from the international beaters, Kenya will be represented in the tournament by eight pros and five amateurs.
The local charges, to be led by veteran Mumias pro Dismas Indiza, Muthaiga youngster Njoroge Kibugu, new Junior Golf Foundation sensation Shashwat Harish and David Wakhu who had a fairy tale run in the 2021 MKO and Savannah Classic at Karen, are already working round the clock to sail into the money bracket on day two of the championship.
“We project that the three-day event will attract over 1.8 billion viewers from across the globe, this is why we should put our best foot forward to market Kenya as a sports tourism destination during the tournament,” Muthaiga Golf Club chairman Dennis Mwirigi highlighted.
Absa Bank Kenya MD & CEO Abdi Mohamed teeing off at the Muthaiga Golf Club where the bank announced its sponsorship of KES. 60 million to the Magical Kenya Open set to take place from February 20 – 23, 2025. Looking on are (L-R) Magical Kenya Open Tournament Director Patrick Obath, Professional Golfers of Kenya Vice Captain Jeff Kubwa, Absa Bank Kenya Consumer Banking Director Moses Muthui and State Department of Sports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum. PHOTO/ ABSA BANK KENYA
His sentiments were echoed by Tournament Director and Local Organizing Committee Chairman Patrick Obath who reiterated that the over 16000 spectators expected in the championship should expect quality competition going by the solid entries the organisers have received from around the world.
” The Games Village will be on fire with various entertainments for the fans. Our junior players will interact with other youngsters from across the globe who have qualified for the event. Also, our juniors will compete in a shootout contest at hole 13 against the international pros in the event dubbed ‘Beat the Pros’ during the tournament,” Obath explained.
Professional Golfers of Kenya Vice Captain, Jeff Kubwa, has assured that Kenyan players are doing their best to lift the country’s flag high during the 56th edition of the tournament.
On his part, Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum stated: “As a government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment for sports organisations to thrive in our country. Our commitment is driven by the fact that sports does not only bring us together as a nation but also enable our youth to pursue their sporting talent. It is for this reason that the government has once again agreed to invest heavily financially in making sure that Kenya hosts the Magical Kenya Open 2025.”
MKO past champions who have confirmed entries
2024: Darius Van Driel (Dutch)
2023: Jorge Campillo (Spain)
2021: Justin Harding (South Africa). Also 2021 Savannah Classic champion.
2019: Guido Miggliozi (Italy). Also 2019 Challenger Tour winner.
2018: Sebastian Soderberg (Sweden).
Kenya’s representative at this year MKO
Pros
1.Njoroge Kibugu (Muthaiga)
2.Greg Snow (Muthaiga)
3.David Wakhu (Golf Park)
4.Samuel Njoroge (Kenya Railway)
5.Dismas Indiza (Mumias)
6.Mohit Mediratta (Sigona)
7.Riz Charania (Windsor)
8.Edwin Mudanyi (Vet Lab)
Amateurs
1.Michael Karanga (Kiambu)
2 John Lejirma (Kenya Railway)
3.William Odek (Nyali)
4.Michael Alunga (Uganda).
Juniors
1.Shashwat Harish (Junior Golf Foundation)
