Waziri plans to blaze a trail for black golfers

Chelsfield Lakes Assistant David Waziri wants to pave the way for more black African golfers to come and play the game in his country.

Waziri, originally from Abuja, Nigeria, will tee off in the PGA Assistants’ Championship final.

But the Kent-based player is keen for more players to follow in his footsteps.

He knows that golf is not accessible to the masses in his homeland and is keen to support more players from Africa to play to a good standard and seize the opportunities available in the UK and beyond.

Waziri, who has been in the UK for 15 years and played EuroPro Tour golf, feels the only way for those players to find out how good they are is to test themselves abroad.

The 40-year-old is playing in the £32,000 Birdietime-supported Assistants’ final which will be played at Farleigh Golf Club in Surrey between July 3-5.

First year Assistant Waziri also wants to help make golf more inclusive by encouraging more people from all backgrounds to take up the game in the UK.

“I’m one of the lucky ones, if you can come here and play golf it’s better,” he said.

“But I decided to take the PGA course because it’s challenging and I can help other people as well, including those back home, so that’s one of the most important things for me.

“I want to develop the sport and try to introduce it into schools. I came to England and found only a few black people playing the game, so I want to make a difference and show they can play if  given the opportunity to.

“That’s my goal and I’ve seen it happening. I want to show that the PGA is open to all races.  It’s what sport is all about.”

Waziri says there are players in Nigeria who can impress if given the chance.

“There are a lot of good kids back home who can play the game,” he added.

“I’ve had a lot of support here and I’ve used that to touch life back home. But I can’t ask for a better club to be at than Chelsfield Lakes.”

For more information or for live scoring from the PGA Assistants' Championship click here.