
Fungai Muderere
FOREIGN footballers that include Charles Chilufya, Laughter Chilembwe, Mwanase Mwanza, Ian Bakala, Kelvin Kaindu, Dabitso Nkhoma and Kelly Jacobson to mention but a few have in the past years illuminated the local football scene with so much aplomb.
They became darlings to local football lovers as the countrya��s football industry grew from strength to strength hence becoming popular to be undoubtedly Zimbabwea��s number one sporting discipline with rugby, cricket, volleyball, hockey, darts and pool among other disciplines playing second fiddle.
However, pool whose growth in Zimbabwe can be traced to pubs and other drinking holes such as nightclubs, is slowly becoming one of the most well-liked sporting disciplines in the country.
As if this is not enough, professionals that include teachers, doctors, nurses, journalists, policemen and lawyers have also come on board to be part of the billiards.
Droves of women are taking to the sport locally and they are doing so with the a�?yes we cana�? tag and a latest trend reveals that clubs in the Bulawayo Pool Association (BPA) have started to attract expatriate players.
One such player is Arthur a�?Achimwenea�? Mlauzi, a Malawian pool player who turns out for formidable BPA Premier League outfit which is led by Tendai Charuka who doubles up as BPA chairman.
But who is Mlauzi?
a�?I was born in Blantyre 40 years ago. I am married to a Zimbabwean wife Kudzai Chidhuro and we are blessed with two children Tasha (18) and Dellan (16) who are Zimbabweans by birth. I have been working for Zimbabwe Projects Housing Trust for four years where I hold the position of Marketing/Sales officer,a�? said Mlauzi who has a rich command of the Shona language.
a�?I have been in Zimbabwe for sometime now having once come into this country in the 1970s before I retraced my footsteps to Malawi. I had to come to Zimbabwe later and this has been my home. I have made friends through pool.
I joined The Lounge three seasons ago and I am happy that I joined a formidable side which at the moment is doing well,a�? said Mlauzi who was last Saturday part of The Lounge team that pummeled visiting Ntabazinduna 10-4 in a league encounter.
The Lounge boasts of a number of gifted pool players that include fit againA�A� Cook a�?The Mastera�? Ndlovu, Ishmael Siwela, Tawanda Charuka and Marodona Khumbula.
What is his take on pool in Zimbabwe?
a�?I have played pool in Malawi, I must say Zimbabwe pool players are very competitive. They have the passion for the sport and my hope is that it will grow and become more professional. I also hope that the government in Zimbabwe will highly consider introducing pool in schools,a�? he said