With Governor’s Cup, Lalong reaffirms commitment to sports tourism

Recent events in Plateau State have shown Governor Simon Lalong that his decision to employ sports as a tool to build the state’s tourism industry is yielding dividend.

Recently, the Nigerian football fraternity gathered in the ‘Tin City’ to celebrate Plateau United, which won the national league for the first time.

At the weekend, the golf world were at the state capital to play and savour the best of the game, which has been gathering adherents from all corners of the state. The occasion was the Governor’s Cup, which had three governors and every other person that matters in the Nigerian game in Jos.

It was also an occasion for Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong to celebrate the achievement of the 18-hole at the Lamingo Golf Club.

Lalong, while teeing off the professional category of the tournament organized in his honour, recalled that he promised the club that this year they would have a course to savour, adding that he was happy that he has fulfilled the promise.

The Captain of the Lamingo Golf Club, Mr. Tang Dapoet thanked the governor for making his promise a reality, while promising the golfers that they had no cause to fear throughout the week-long event in the state.

Dapoet was happy that the club, which was founded in 1968, hosted more than 150 professionals, adding that more than 600 golfers, both professionals and amateurs, entered for the event.
Governor Lalong was captain of the Golf Club in 2011 and was re-elected in 2012 when he had not dreamed of becoming the governor.

So, this 2017 Governor’s Cup organized in his honour was to appreciate his numerous contributions to the development of the club.

The governor, supported by Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar and his Edo State counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, teed off the amateur tournament on Saturday.

Earlier, Chairman, Board of Trustees of Lamingo Golf Club, Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep, said that preparation before the tournament was commendable, especially in terms of publicity.

While commending the management for a good job, Wuyep promised that the 2018 Governor’s Cup would be better.

He advised more Nigerians too take to golf, saying, “I will not say the game is for the rich. The only thing there is that the sets are very costly. But if you are able to buy them once, that is all for life.”

Wuyep thanked the organisers and participants, adding that the governor has fulfilled his promise that players would be playing on the 18 greens this year.

The overall winner of the tournament, Martin Odoh from Minna got N840, 000 for his efforts.