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April 26, 2023 | Rain won't hold us back!
Heavy rain cancelled the outdoor golf activities but class was in session in the classroom with the girls . We are proud of our coaches.
March 17, 2023 | We are building Game Changers
Who said young African girls could not fall in love with the game of golf? These middle and high school girls cannot wait after class on Wednesday afternoons to run to the soccer field and meet their coaches for golf. They are having fun and enjoying the game. They don’t care about the field they just want to play including putting on sand. If they don’t see it they won’t believe. Beyond the game they are learning the life skills of integrity, honesty, courtesy, respect, perseverance, sportsmanship, etc…. We are building game changers.
March 3, 2023 | We are back in session!
Back in session after a short school break. The girls are more motivated after their road trip during which they had a chance to see a golf course.
February 10, 2023 | Golf Equipment Donation
Sankofa Youth Golf Association, represented by its president Tano Malentin donated some golf equipment (a golf bag, four dozens golf balls, four gloves, some grips and a range finder) to Roma, the number one golfer in Ivory Coast as he prepares to make his first trip to the USA to play in some golf tournaments beginning with the Jim Thorpe Invitational next week in Orlando, Florida. Tano is also the coach and manager of Roma. We are grateful to all those who continue to support us and the work we are doing in Africa.
December 17, 2022 | Golf Clinic
Before flying back to the USA Tano conducted a free clinic with our coaches at another girls school. The school is interested in adding golf as another sport activity to their program. 20 girls signed up and had a blast. More and more schools are not interested in our program not only to introduce golf to the youths but also to reinforce the life skills in their lives.
November 24, 2022 | New Golf Clubs
Today was an exciting day. The girls had a chance to hit into their new nets courtesy of the Interbay Men’s Club in Seattle, WA. The girls were afraid to hit into the nets for the first time. We are so grateful for the support. We continue to receive from my Men’s group at Interbay. We love those guys as they are helping grow the game of golf in Africa.
November 16, 2022 | The Girls of Golf
Over six weeks ago these girls never touched a golf club before. Today we completed our six weeks program and it is amazing to see these girls not only enjoy the game but actually improve. They are now asking when they can go out on the course and play. Others want their own clubs. We are hopeful we will be able to make it happen soon. SYGA goal has been and will always be to provide the youth of Ivory Coast and Africa access to a golf course and some golf equipment.
September 11, 2022 | Roma and Tano Malentin finish preparations for the Open of Kinshasa next week.
Roma and Tano Malentin reconnected for two days (Friday and Saturday) after being apart for three months to finish preparations for the Open of Kinshasa next week. They played a full round of 18 holes on Saturday and spent the time on the mental aspect of the game. The focus was on teaching Roma how to breathe on the course. Well, the result was an easy score of 68 (-5) with almost an albatros on the third hole Par 5 from 230 yards with his new 5 wood. Needless to say a star is born and Malentin feels good about chances in Kinshasa, Congo Brazzaville. Now. Let’s go have some fun.
October 30, 2022 | Week 4 Groupe Scolaire Madeleine Danielou
Groupe Scolaire Madeleine Danielou. The “Champions” continue to improve. Yes, that is what we call them. The Life Skill was Honesty and there was a great participation from the girls about it’s importance. New participants continue to sign up. We now have 22 girls in the program.
October 12, 2022 | Week 2 of SYGA golf program at Madeleine-Danielou School.
Week 2 of SYGA golf program at Madeleine-Danielou School. We had 17 girls today. The Life Skill was Courtesy and the Golf Skill was Target Awareness. The total number of girls registered so far is 20. SYGA provided the girls some uniform tee shirts with our logo on them. Very excited about what we are building here in Ivory Coast and Africa. #buildinggamechangers #givingback #impactyouth #girlsgolftoo #DGS
October 3, 2022 | Tano Malentin mets with Groupe Scolaire Madeleine Danielou
SYGA Coaches meeting to prepare for week 2 of our program at Groupe Scolaire Madeleine Danielou. We reviewed the coaching handbook and discussed the golf skill of target awareness and the life skill of Courtesy.
September 24, 2022 | Tano Malentin met with principal of Groupe Scolaire Madeleine-Danielou
We had a great meeting yesterday with the principal of Groupe Scolaire Madeleine-Danielou alongside coaches from other activities. The school has agreed to introduce golf as an extra curriculum activity for their school year. They will be the first school from kindergarten to High School and the first only girls school in the whole country to include golf as an activity. Due to the lack of equipment and access to a golf course our goal will be to build a small driving range with a couple of nets and provide some mats and equipment. The cost is estimated at $1,500 and we hope to raise enough money to make that happen.
September 10, 2022 | Tano Malentin met with the President of the Golf Club of Ouaga, the only golf course in Burkina Faso, West Africa
SYGA had a meeting with the President of the Golf Club of Ouaga, the only golf course in Burkina Faso, West Africa. The country does not have a Golf Federation and golf coaches. The conversation was more of a plea from the President to have someone come over and Coach their “best” players and their members but also train some of their players to become Coaches. They also wanted to start a chapter of SYGA in their country. I am very humbled and touched by their trust in our program but also the great need to grow this game of golf in Africa.
September 11, 2022 | Roma and Tano Malentin finish preparations for the Open of Kinshasa next week.
Roma and Tano Malentin reconnected for two days (Friday and Saturday) after being apart for three months to finish preparations for the Open of Kinshasa next week. They played a full round of 18 holes on Saturday and spent the time on the mental aspect of the game. The focus was on teaching Roma how to breathe on the course. Well, the result was an easy score of 68 (-5) with almost an albatros on the third hole Par 5 from 230 yards with his new 5 wood. Needless to say a star is born and Malentin feels good about chances in Kinshasa, Congo Brazzaville. Now. Let’s go have some fun.
September 8, 2022 | Tano Malentin met with Jean-Romaric, the number one professional golfer in Côte d’Ivoire.
A day after landing in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire Tano Malentinmet with Jean-Romaric, the number one professional golfer in Côte d’Ivoire. On behalf of Sankofa Youth Golf Association Tano Malentin donated some golf equipment (clubs, balls, hats, shoes, shirts, etc…). He is preparing to fly to Kinshasa, DRC next week for his first international golf tournament and his second professional event of 2022. Tano Malentin will also have the privilege to travel with him for the first time as his coach and manager. We are grateful to everyone who continue to believe in our vison to grow golf in Côte d’Ivoire and Africa.
June 3, 2022 | Tano Malentin meets with Koffi Bertin, Director of Sports of Ivory Coast to share SYGA vision.
I am almost at the end of my 30-day trip and today I met with the Director of Sports of Ivory Coast to share SYGA vision. He is the second highest sports authority in the country. We happened to have attended the same high school and college. Needless to say it was a very fruitful conversation and we remembered each other. We received his full endorsement. I also offered him and the minister some golf polos, hats and sweaters.
June 2, 2022 | Tano Malentin Speaks to children in the Ivory Coast about the game of golf
This is what Sankofa Youth Golf Association was created for. EVERY CHILD should have access to golf.
June 2, 2022 | Tano Malentin Speaks at all girls school about the game of golf
Had the opportunity to speak at an all girls school from kindergarten to High School about the game of golf. The girls learned a lot about golf and asked many questions. It was very interactive. I was taken back when the girls stormed the stage and asked for my autographs. We are hoping to use them as a pilot school for SYGA. Golf will be one of the elective for after school programs.
May 26th, 2022 | Tano Malentin to Coach Romaric Djezou | Number one golfer in Ivory Coast
Tano Malentin, Golf Coach and President of SYGA has agreed to be the Golf Coach of Romaric Djezou the number one golfer in Ivory Coast. His father Jean Claude, a Golf Professional himself and his first coach and friend of Tano during their amateurs years in Ivory Coast believe Coach Tano can take his son to the next level. After following him during the Open of Ivory Coast Tano was very impressed with Romaric. With an average drive of 330 yards and a clubhead speed of 155 mph Romaric hit seventeen greens in regulation during the second round. After the Open they spent some time together working on his short game. At 26 years old Romaric has tremendous potentials to win a lot of professional events both in Africa and in the USA.
We wish Coach Tano and Romaric the best of luck as they team up together to conquer the world.
May 10th, 2022 | Meeting with Group Vivendi Africa
Today our meeting was a very productive one. We met with Mr. Stephane FAURES General Manager of Group Vivendi Africa (GVA). He loved SYGA vison and showed his full support. He would love the opportunity to be a partner but also reach out to other foreign based companies to share the vision. He was very impressed by the audacity of SYGA and believes this can be a model for the rest of Africa. We look forward to fostering the relationship.
May 7, 2022 | Golf Equipment Delivery
Sankofa Youth Golf Association (SYGA) delivered some golf equipment to Jean Romaric Kouassi the number one Professional Golfer in Côte d’Ivoire as he prepares for the National Open next week. Equipment includes a Taylor Made golf bag, a set of Taylor Made P790 irons, some Taylor Made wedges, a Dz of Taylor Made golf balls and 2 Taylor Made gloves. I look forward to watching him play for the first time next week.
Past winners include Gary Player who won the inaugural event in 1980, Vijay Singh in 1989 and Ian Poulter in 1999.
