Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Bulawayo Province Pool Association will meet at Queens Sports Club on January 31 for an annual general meeting that comes with unfinished business, rule disputes, and a test of how tightly the game is being run at the provincial level.
The meeting will start at 12PM and is expected to draw club representatives who have spent the better part of the past season arguing over officiating standards and the impact of amended World Black Ball Rules on local competitions.
BPPA secretary general Nomore Muzvidziwa said the agenda follows the association’s constitution and will open with the president’s annual report, before members turn to finances, technical matters, and governance issues that have lingered since last season.
“The agenda, as per BPPA constitution, they will debate or approve annual reports from the president, debate or approve the treasurer’s and technical committee reports,” said Muzvidziwa.
He said auditors’ reports, if available, will also be tabled, alongside members’ submissions, disciplinary matters, and votes on acceptance, suspension, or expulsion of affiliates. The meeting will also approve the 2025 budget, set membership fees, consider constitutional amendments, and, where required, conduct elections or by elections.
Behind the formal business sits a more immediate concern. BPPA has formally raised objections to sections of the amended World Black Ball Rules, changes that referees and players say have altered outcomes of matches and stirred disputes across Bulawayo leagues.
Through the office of the referees’ coordinator, the association has circulated its position on areas it believes are problematic, starting with changes to the lag. Under the amended rules, the number of lag loss fouls has increased from six to seven.
“The added one being that of hitting the bottom cushion twice. If the ball hits the bottom cushion twice then it’s an automatic loss of lag. Red loses the lag,” Muzvidziwa explained.
On scratches, defined as potting the cue ball, BPPA confirmed enforcement remains unchanged, but racking procedures have tightened. There is no mirror image allowed when racking, meaning yellow or stripes must form the J shape. When different colours are used, the dominant colour always represents solids.
If a referee racks the balls incorrectly, play continues without a foul, although officials must take note when re spotting balls that leave the table. If a player racks incorrectly, it is ruled a standard foul.
Clarification has also been issued on what constitutes a legal break with a foul. A legal break requires at least one object ball to be potted or two or more object balls to cross the imaginary centre line. If those conditions are met, the break stands.
“If the cue ball sinks or any other ball falls off the table, then the incoming player has no rerack. It’s considered a standard foul,” Muzvidziwa said.
Central pocket rulings have also changed. Where two balls come to rest in the central pocket touching the cushion and each other, both are deemed pocketed. The combination may involve two object balls or an object ball and the cue ball, and in either case, the balls are treated as sunk.
The association has also warned players over conduct, particularly swearing. Referees have been instructed to issue an immediate warning if a player swears at an opponent or supporters. Continued abuse results in the loss of that frame.
“Swearing may include incidents like showing someone that you will cut their throat,” Muzvidziwa said, pointing to gestures as well as words.
Friday’s AGM is expected to determine whether these interpretations are endorsed formally, challenged by members, or escalated further, with the outcome likely to shape how pool is officiated across Bulawayo for the rest of the season.
