Chokwe sisters, golf’s future stars
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday December 18, 2021 06:00
It is difficult to tell the sisters apart. Loapi and Maru turned up for the interview in matching outfits. The two are comfortable with each other, evidence of early telepathic understanding that is expected to shake up local golf’s established order. It is not entirely strange that the two ended up on the local lush green or brown golf courses as they are following in the footsteps of their father Madumetse Chokwe, who played tennis at junior level. Loapi, the eldest of the two sisters at 15, said golf first struck her last year when she was watching a television show.
“We are homeschooled so I wanted something to keep me busy. I informed my parents about the idea and they welcomed it with open hands,” she said. But she said after her parents enrolled them into the sport, she had second thoughts about golf after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted local activities. But this year, at some stage, normalcy was almost restored and her newfound favourite sport resumed. Her love for the sport was reignited, and she took it to another level. “So far I have played about 10 tournaments and I liked about three of them. My dream is to be an LPGA tour player and get a chance to play
the best courses around the world,” she said.
The young sister, Maru, 14, initially had no interest in golf until her father introduced her to the sport.
“It has been an interesting journey so far but of course, the course cannot be friendly all the time. Sometimes I have bad days. But I always make sure that I make a comeback. My parents are always behind us. They make sure that we focus on the sport and on some days we watch golf documentaries,” Maru said. She said as an upcoming player, she has international professional golfers that she looks up to in the likes of Tiger Woods and Nelly Korda. The latter is an American professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour, where she has won seven times. She played in the 2019 and 2021 Solheim Cup. She also won an Olympic gold medal at the women’s individual golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Maru’s dream is to play on the LPGA Tour. “Girls my age should be encouraged to play golf. At the moment only a
few are interested in golf,” she said. Maru currently has a handicap of 28. In golf, when a handicap goes down it indicates an improvement. It is a numerical measure of a golfer’s potential that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another. Better players are those with the lowest handicaps. Veteran golf coach, Joe Marudu said he first met Loapi during his weekend training sessions at Gaborone Golf Club. “I ran junior development clinics at the club for free every Saturday. Loapi came for a few weekends but the sessions were disrupted by the suspension of sport (due to COVID-19). Their father then called me and informed me that he wanted me to coach his children. They also have a brother who also plays golf,” he said. Marudu said it was difficult to work when sport kept being halted. Marudu said Maru and Loapi remind him of renowned international golf sisters, Jessica and Nelly Korda. He said the sisters’ performance is amazing and it seems as if they have been playing golf for ages.
“They started playing competitions this year. All along I have been preparing them, showing them how to play, the technical aspects and how to handle the course. When making their debut, they started winning prizes,” Marudu said. He said the sisters take turns to win tournaments and said the two have stayed focused.
He said the challenge is that there are a few girls playing golf, which means they do not get enough competition. Marudu said it is unfortunate that girls are always expected to play netball and they are not given many options. He said the sisters have massive support from their parents, which is something other parents should emulate.
“It is easy to work with Loapi and Maru. They do not have the mentality that sport is a pastime. That is why sport is not taken seriously in this country. Even Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) gets involved when players complete their Form Five,” he said.
Marudu advised Maru and Loapi to be committed to what they are doing and follow instructions. For his part, their father Chokwe said in the beginning it was a struggle to look at how the future of the country is going. He said there are many unemployed graduates roaming the streets. “When you start off and say you want your children to have degrees, and then what. That is where it all started and sport was an avenue, which we could explore. Sport is a business but unfortunately in Botswana most parents do not see that but they are busy focusing on academics,” he said. Chokwe said fortunately he has a supportive wife who shares the same vision. He said they both graduated from University of Botswana and started their own businesses. Chokwe said he does not want his children to go through the same struggles. “Loapi and Maru used to swim and do other sport but when you look at swimming, it does not make sense to concentrate on swimming; after they become good then what. I have never heard of a professional swimmer [in the country] and how much they earn,” he said. Chokwe said if his children become professional golfers, they are going to be successful in life.
He said he knew nothing about golf and Marudu taught them. He said it has been tough because they went through a new journey without any knowledge. He said fortunately everybody at Gaborone Golf Club was welcoming.
“They assisted us to get golf bags, clubs and other things we have. Marudu also gave my children the clubs that they are using. Some of them we cannot afford and some of them we do not know where to get,” he said. Chokwe said he owes his wife, Mmaetsho, a lot of gratitude because she is hands on and a pillar in the journey. “She wakes them up everyday to make sure that they do not miss training. Even when they do not want to attend training, she makes sure that they attend and makes sure that they are well fed,” he said.
Chokwe said at the moment, Loapi and Maru do not have sponsorship. He said the difficult thing is when it comes to paying for things like caddies who cost P250 per player. Chokwe said they travelled to South Africa and saw proper clubs which cost R16,000 each and they cannot afford them. Chokwe said they are doing everything from their own pockets. The passionate father urged parents to plan for their children’s future. He said parents should know what their children like and not choose for them. “My kids are writing their Form Five next year in May. That would be it with academics. The academics now become golf. If we are to get sponsorship, which includes academics, we are not going to accept that. It would be unfortunate if they do not get sponsorship because it comes with academics,” Chokwe said.
FACT FILE
Full names: Loapi Chokwe
Date of birth: 2006 (15 years)
Place of birth: Gaborone
Sport: Golf
Handicap: 33
Full names: Maru Chokwe
Date of birth: 2007 (14 years)
Place of birth: Gaborone
Sport: Golf
Handicap: 28