Inácio José Machele and Francisco Samuel Nhampossa – In search of the right swing

They have different ages and backgrounds, but both have a passion for a sport that is certainly not the most popular in Mozambique: golf. We are talking about Inácio José Machele and Francisco Samuel Nhampossa.

The first, aged 45, was introduced to this sport at a very young age, in 1987, under the influence of a neighbour, António Checo, who is also a player. And it was under the pretext of helping him load the gear that Mr. Checo opened the door to a new world for Machele. Machele recalls: “From the very first day, I fell in love with the sport, the style of clothing, the dominant language, which is English… That made me a boy full of dreams in golf.”

The second, 31 years old, started playing the sport in 2009, and curiously, for the sake of convenience, since the course was very close to his home.

As with everything in life, golf also requires a source of inspiration and, if for Inácio Machele it came from Mr. Checo, during childhood, and currently from the American Jordan Spieth, for Francisco Nhampossa it came from the international Tiger Woods. And Nhampossa laments: “here in Mozambique, it is difficult to mention names. There are many good players, but they are not well-known, as is the case of José Nhaúle.”

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But what makes golf such an unpopular sport in the country? Lack of promotion of the sport (including in sports programs), little attention on the part of sports directors, absence of courses to practice it and lack of sponsors are some of the reasons given by both golfers.

However, it’s not all bad news. Despite the challenges, there is good news, such as the several tournaments in which athletes have already had the opportunity to participate, which put the country on the international golf map.

And if the two golfers share a passion for practicing the sport, they also share a vocation for teaching this sport.

“I am engaged in a project to raise awareness of all who are interested in learning to play golf, and I am available to teach people of different age groups,” Machele says. Nhampossa is completely dedicated to a project to train children. And the country thanks him!

But is it so difficult to be a golfer? According to our interviewees, honesty, respect for the rules of the game, dedication and regular training are essential. And, of course, having adequate and good quality equipment. After all, every detail counts when the goal is to achieve success!

And speaking of success, both Machele and Nhampossa believe in the potential of golf to attract tourists to the country.According to the latter, “(…) this sport can be a strong ally for large businesses, as there are many entrepreneurs who practice it.” Machele, on the other hand, has a more pragmatic view: “(…) golf is the best place to expose and publicise your business in front of the people who make decisions in your companies.”

Between the challenges and the potential for opportunities, there are dreams. Machele’s is to get a sponsorship to enroll in the professional golf school in South Africa, to later gain access to world-class tournaments such as the Sunshine Tour and the DP World Cup.

Nhampossa’s is to win an international title and take Mozambican golf across borders.

After all, they both share the same dream, and are at different times in their respective careers.

From our side, we can only hope that both of them take the right swings so that they get there as soon as possible.

Inácio Machele:

MSC Championship, Brithol Mitchcom Golf Day

Villas & Golf Tournament

Skukuza Open

White River Open

BMW Championship

Southern African Nations Games

Heritage World Cup

Francisco Nhampossa:

Zone 6 Malawi Tournament

Zone 6 Cape Town (SA) Tournament

World Cup in Mauritius

Issue 75 Sept/Oct | Download.