Franklin native getting chance to polish young African’s golf talent

We have a tendency to take things for granted in this country. Opportunity is one of them. This is a golf story that will warm your heart.

Our sport has taken some hits in recent months, but the tale of Madalitso Muthiya (pronounced Mad-a-Leetso Moo-Tee-A) is incredible, and it now has a tie to Johnson County.
In 1980, Peter Muthiya married Edith Siame, and they had three children. The family lived outside Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city in Africa. Peter Muthiya owned an insurance brokerage, making the Muthiyas solidly middle class.
Understand that Zambia is one of the poorest nations on earth. The average Zambian lives on less than a dollar a day, and a Zambian child is more likely to die of AIDS than to get a college education.
Although his family was very poor, Peter Muthiya was able to put food on the table and provide a life that allowed for a few extras. He purchased some used golf clubs for himself, and it was from this patchwork set that the family discovered Madalitso Muthiya’s talent for golf.
There are no golf coaches in Zambia because few people can afford such luxuries. As a result, Muthiya’s understanding of the game came from the bits and pieces his father passed down and from another source, TV. Father and son would watch tournaments, and then the younger Muthiya would try to imitate what he saw.
Enter Jayme Roth, legislative director for Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. Roth was on a visit to Zambia when he was introduced to Muthiya by the president of the country. Roth was impressed with what he saw.
The president asked for Roth’s help in getting Muthiya a college scholarship in the United States. Roth went to work preparing Muthiya to take the SAT. He entered the young Zambian in a high profile junior tournament in Florida. Utilizing his connections, Roth invited several college coaches to the tournament.
Muthiya traveled to the United States. He bore with him his father’s used set of golf clubs, garage sale material. Muthiya won the tournament and with the victory earned a golf scholarship to New Mexico.
Thanks to a strong work ethic, he instantly had an effect on the Lobos program. He shot 66 in his

Photo Caption: We have a tendency to take things for granted in this country. Opportunity is one of them. This is a golf story that will warm your heart.
Our sport has taken some hits in recent months, but the tale of Madalitso Muthiya (pronounced Mad-a-Leetso Moo-Tee-A) is incredible, and it now has a tie to Johnson County.