Kings win easter cup

. Fungai Muderere
SEASONED Bulawayo Pool Association (BPA) campaigners were on Easter Saturday crowned champions of the Proton Bakery-sponsored Easter Cup tournament after they got the better of stubborn Skittle Inn.

For their tireless efforts, the ten-member Kings squad, which boasted of the services of Dumi Marira, Stephen Paswani, Geshan Nash and Bogia Gomba among others, went home with $400 as their prize money plus a trophy after their final matchAï¿½ played at a heaving Palace Gardens.

As if this was not enough, each of the Kings players got a hamper courtesy of Proton Bakery. SkittleAï¿½ aï¿½ï¿½ who came out as theAï¿½ first runners up aï¿½ï¿½ got prize money of $200 while Ace Lounge who came out third after beating Lobengula Sharks got $150.

Sharks got prize money of $100.

aï¿½?It was a well organised tournament and I am happy to say all the games went on well without disturbances. Such was the case on the final day at Palace Gardens. The presence of Proton Bakery spiced our event and we have realised that we have to engage them to be our fulltime partners. The motto on the BPA chat group is now aï¿½?Eat Proton and sink the blackballaï¿½? as we look forward to a positive response from Proton Bakery. We promise to give them worthy mileage if they come on board,aï¿½? said BPA vice-chairman Donald Wadawu.

Proton Bakery sales and marketing co-ordinator Ronald Makwangudze who graced the two day event said they would wish to establish a mutual and sustainable relationship with their key stakeholders.

aï¿½?We would want to thank the people of Bulawayo for welcoming us. We appreciate the support we have been getting so far. We will always support sports in whatever way after an increased consumption of our product. We have a track record of supporting sports in other regions and this was our first time doing so in Matabeleland as we seek to establish a mutual and sustainable relationship with our key stakeholders,aï¿½? said Makwangudze.

Last year, Proton Bakery dressed Lady Cheetahs when they went for their rugby tour in Ireland. They also gave Proton bread to boxer Charles Manyuchi on a daily basis from April to December last year and they we are into partnerships with Mutare Rugby Sports Club, Marondera Rugby Club and Watershed High Schoolaï¿½ï¿½s rugby team.

Meanwhile, the Bulawayo All Africa Pool Association (AAPA) provincial qualifying tournament for women was conducted on Easter Saturday at Shumba Bar where veteran pool players that include Keitumetsi Gubudu, Lucy Mpofu, Flatta Moyo, Thandekile Sibanda, Petronella Sibanda, Nomsa Maseko and Catherine Sibindi were picked to represent Zimbabwe at the forthcoming AAPA games. Six players Reya Chitokwani, Christine Sengwe, Priscilla Chisoro, Priscilla Lunga and Carol Dube and Sithembiso Dube who were part of last yearaï¿½ï¿½s female national representatives at the games in Uganda got an automatic entry.

The development means Bulawayo will be represented by 13 ladies at the national team trials. BPAaï¿½ï¿½s acting general Raphael Mukucha said the Bulawayo menaï¿½ï¿½s APPA Provincial qualifying tournament will be held on Saturday and Sunday at a venue yet to be announced.