Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for the 2025 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan now rest on the shoulders of seven rising golf stars who were officially flagged off yesterday at the Royal Nairobi Golf Club ahead of the All Africa Junior Team Championship (AAJTC) in Tunisia.

The team including four boys and three girls will represent the country at the prestigious continental showpiece set to tee off from today through Sunday at the Residence Golf Course in Tunisia. The players are aiming to better last year’s performance in South Africa, where the girls’ team finished second and the boys placed fourth.

Principal Secretary for the State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi led the flagging-off ceremony, expressing confidence in the juniors’ potential to fly the national flag high.

“This is a unique opportunity for our youth to shine on Africa’s biggest junior golfing stage. These players are not just representing Kenya, they are paving the way for future stars,” he said, reaffirming the government’s support for youth sports.

The team comprises Junaid Manji (17, Sigona), Nathan Mwangi (16, Karen), Tsevi Soni (15, Sigona), and Justin Ngeera (14, Vet Lab) in the boys’ category. The girls’ team features Belinda Wanjiru (15, Vet Lab), Hazel Kuria (17, Muthaiga) and Audrey Gachora (15, Muthaiga).

Coaching duties will be handled by John Van Liefland and CJ Wangai, while JGF President Vincent Mukiri leads the delegation with Millicent Mello as team manager.