Football legend Joseph Jesse Masiga aka “JJ” Masiga has been honoured by Royal Nairobi Golf Club, who held a special tournament on Saturday to celebrate the revered veteran sportsman.
Masiga prevailed in football and rugby in his heydays, but now prefers a club when off his day work as a dental surgeon.
He is a member of Royal, where he plays off handicap 23. A total of 208 golfers graced the tournament dubbed; “JJ Masiga, The Legend”.
Royal Nairobi captain Richard Owino, said: “Dr Masiga is a living legend and as a member of the club, we feel privileged and duty-bound to honour him for making Kenya proud in his heydays as a sportsman.”
Masiga played for Mean Machine and Impala rugby clubs and featured for AFC Leopards and national team Harambee Stars as the first-choice striker.
“Winning the East and Central Africa Challenge Cup three times in a row — between 1981 and 83 — with Harambee Stars under Marshall Mulwa was quite an achievement. It hasn’t been repeated. With AFC Leopards, we won the club championship four times (1979, 1982, 1983 and 1984), which was a great achievement too,” Masiga recalled with nostalgia.
“In Kenya, there is a lot of talent. I watch some games and realise that some players are more talented than we were. The essence is just to put together and prop up football management. We don’t value the players as much as we should. That’s where we go wrong.”
Masiga quipped: “Basically, I play social golf, but I enjoy it because it demands a lot from my physical fitness, walking and sight. I play off handicap 23 and I’m okay with it.”
The tournament was won by handicap 29 player Elizabeth Njau with 38 Stableford points. Njau carried home a Hisense 55” TV and Trophy.
The men’s winner was Handicap 13 player Hillary Korir with 36 points while Keziah Korir, off handicap 23, was the Lady Winner with 36 Stableford points.
Full Results
Overall Winner- Elizabeth Njau H29 38 points
Men Winner: Hillary Korir Hcp 13 36points
Lady Winner: Keziah Korir Hcp 23 36points
Men Runner Up: Steve Otieno Hcp 7 33points
Lady Runner Up: Felistus Njoroge Hcp 28 35 Points
Men Third: Peter Mwangi Hcp 11 33 Points
Lady Third: Abigael Munyinyi Hcp 31 34points
Senior Winner: Daniel Mwamati Hcp 17 31points
Division 4 Winner: Kimani Njagi Hcp 30 28points
First Nine Winner: Alice Wanjiru Hcp 29 18
2nd Nine Winner: Simon Mwangi Hcp 18 20
Gross Winner: Steve Otieno Hcp 7 82 Gross
Junior Winner: Joshua Kounah Hcp 27 31points
Sponsor Winner: Moses Murigi Hcp 29 39points
Sponsor Runner Up: Penny Wambui Hcp 19 32
Sponsor Third: Collins Too Hcp 9 31
Guest Winner: Sam Mbinda Hcp 19 33points
