Consistency pays off as Railway wins Nairobi championship

Kenya Railway Golf Club (KRGC) are champions of Nairobi District Golf League. Railway finished at the top of the 12 team league with 165 points, a narrow 9-point margin over defending champions Sigona Golf Club.

In their last match against Kiambu Golf Club Railway lost 12-10. However, that was enough for the overall victory.

Sigona, who would have rained on Railway’s mugithi, could only manage five points against a rejuvenated VetLab squad, losing 5-18 and so failed to stop Railway.

So how did Railway, a club better known for the good times, triumph? According to former Kenya Golf Union chairman Anthony Muhoro, their victory had nothing to do with luck.

“Our team was consistent throughout the season, we played with dedication and passion and more importantly we played as a team,” he said.

“In a way , we played like Leicester, we started off hoping to cause a few big upsets against clubs like Muthaiga, Royal and Limuru and gradually as the victories piled up, we dared to dream — and the rest is history. Railway are champions of the 2016 golf league.” Railway’s main league team include two elite amateur golfers, Alfred Nandwa and George Felix, who both play off plus-one handicaps.

Both forego playing in some KGU Golfer of the Year events to play for Railway. Veteran golfer and fierce competitor Adelbert Omooria (hc4) was a key pillar for the team. Others included Tim Ruhiu (hc7), Anthony Muhoro (hc6), Anthony Mwaura (hc4), Edward Murungi (hc9), SHO Onyango (hc8), Paul Ngugi (hc10), Samwel Njoroge (hc2), Andrew Kimani (hc7) and James Mugo (hc9).

Railways league convenor was James Kamenchu who worked with Captain James Mugo, Chairman Frank Ombura and Vice Chairman Walter Onyino.
According to some reports Onyino, whose handicap is domiciled at the Karen Country Club, was the most regular player. However, his per-capita scoring was a little bit suspect.

Galvanising the team

Speaking exclusively to the Business Daily Onyino said that although he did not contribute much in the way of points, he played his role in galvanising the team.

“This team won because we all played different roles on and off the golf course. It may be fair to say that most of my victories were off the golf course,” he said. “However, I did have that one victory at Ruiru.”

As I predicted last week, the Kiambu versus Railway derby did not disappoint.

The match was evenly contested and the after party was complete with good old traditional music, enough roast meat for a million gouts and Tuskers all round.

The 2016 Nairobi District Golf League featured 12 teams including champions Railway, Sigona (second), Royal Nairobi (third), Limuru, Thika SC, Vet Lab, Muthaiga, Kiambu, Golf Park, Ruiru, Karen and Windsor.

How did Ruiru finish ahead of Karen by the way? And Golf Park reminds me of AFC Leopards — a lot of noise with little results to show.
Well done Railway, you deserve the victory.