Golf: Manchang, A New Kid On The Bloc

Manchang Samuel, born May 16, 1996 to Mr. and Mrs. Wala Samuel is a rough diamond going through the process of full refinement. An indigene of Plateau state, Manchang is from a very poor background. Unfortunately his father died and since then his education was stalled. All was not lost however when the Deputy Director of Finance of the Industrial Training Fund,  Mrs. Tonia first set eyes on the Junior caddy at the Rayfield Golf Club in Plateau State.

She saw beyond what most people would see and invested N20,000 to register him for the 1st KGI All African Junior Golf Championships, which took place at the IBB Golf & Country Club, Abuja in 2012. The young Manchang’s star has been shinning bright since then. Young Manchang Samuel won his age category in the event and earned a spot to participate at the U.S. Kids European Championships, in Gullane Scotland.

At the time, Manchang barely earned N2, 000 day let alone have enough money to obtain a passport, pay for visa or even travel. Mrs. Tonia again came to the rescue by rallying round friends such Air Vice Marshall Danbaba and Senator Sati to raise funds for him to obtain a Nigerian passport and visa. His home golf club, Rayfield also rallied round him and sought the support of Governor David Jonah Jang through the Sports Ministry and Ministry of Finance. The State Governor wasted no time in approving funds to support Manchang’ s trip to Scotland.

As expected, Manchang performed beyond expectations and came within the Top 20 players competing against over 60 players from 30 countries in his age group. He qualified to represent Nigeria at the U.S Kids World Championships in Pinehurst, North Carolina, but was denied Visa by the U.S. Embassy for reason unknown. This denial did not stop Manchang from working hard at his game. For 12 months he continued to work hard on his game and he has moved from handicap 18 player to handicap 4 player.

Playing on borrowed golf clubs in Scotland also made Mrs. Mafiana and Air Vice Marshall Danbaba raise funds for young Manchang to purchase new clubs. He now owns a full set of Titleist Golf Clubs. He also uses a top of the range Taylormade Rossa Putter which he uses to sink the most crucial putts under pressure. At the recently concluded 2nd KGI All African Championships, Manchang proved himself the top ranked amateur player in Nigeria again by ripping the field apart by a clear 23 strokes from the runner up player. He shot a 9 over par 81 on the first day, 6 over par 78 on the 2nd day and an incredible 2 over par 74 on the 3rd day.

In his own words: “I am very grateful to all that have helped me so far and I am now ready to take on the world and put Nigeria’s name at the top of the Golfing Map. I am also grateful to Kids Golf International for organising tournaments that can expose talents like me. I work very hard at my game and I am disciplined on and off the course to ensure that I am always fit to play. I will never disappoint my sponsors and fans.”

Manchang is set to play the U.S. Kids European Championships in Gullane Scotland, the U.S. Kids World Championships in Pinehurst North Carolina, the U.S.G.A Junior Amateur Championships Qualifiers, The U.S.G.A Amateur Public Links Championships Qualifiers and the Taylormade Junior Masters Championships in 2013.