Pool breaking new ground

been associated with a rowdy environment and gambling.
But thanks to the changing landscape in the world of sport, the so-called minority sporting disciplines are breaking new ground and attracting interest.
That trend has also caught up with domestic pool with many people gradually appreciating the sport.
Although a lot still needs to be done, a number of tournaments have been held in several towns which have helped spread the gospel of pool and distinguish it from just a means of passing over time in bars and beerhalls.
The sport would also need to start making in-roads to lure more people and scale great heights on the international scene.
The Zimbabwe Billiards and Snooker Association vice-chairperson, Tom Kennedy, said their goal is to create a conducive environment for everyone to join the sport and change the attitude that the sport “belongs” in bars.
“People have a feeling that pool is only played in the bar but it has changed and now it is a professional sport where one can compete and represent his or her country in regional and international events.
“We discovered that this has always been a sport, unfortunately it was last played competitively in this country during the colonial era.
“The last executive to run the sport in this country was in 1983 and we are trying to take pool out of the bars for everyone to play regardless of gender, age and religion so that people appreciate it as a sport.
“We have approached the responsible authorities to avail halls so that everyone can come and we want to create a conducive environment for the players,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy, who is also the chairperson for Harare Province, said their ambition to develop pool started with a provincial league in 1998.
Then they had one league in Harare with four teams – Whitehouse, Stones, Ufos and Willowillo.
However, they have managed to establish leagues in nine provinces, with only Matabeleland North still to get proper structures.
“We started the league in 1998 in Harare with four teams taking part. We had 11 teams in the following year and the league continued to grow over the years.
“In 2008, we had 36 teams in Harare of which it was too big for one league so we had to break it into two leagues forming the Premier and Division One leagues.
“Harare were the pioneers of the pool formation. However, we now have leagues in nine provinces including Bulawayo, Masvingo, Midlands, Marondera and Chinhoyi.
“We haven’t established structures in Matabeleland North but we are actually working on it.
“The sport has developed, it is developing at a very fast pace,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy said they are hoping to come up with a junior development programme as they seek to change the attitude of people towards pool.
“We are trying to develop the sport from grassroots level and introduce it in schools and colleges. We have guys from the age of 14 who are playing. We also have women’s clubs that are competing,” said Kennedy.
In 2009, Zimbabwe competed in the Africa Pool Games held in South Africa and they are hoping to send a team for the All-Africa Games and the All-Africa Pool Games set for Malawi later this year.
“We sent a team to South Africa for the Africa Pool Games for the first time of which we did well because of the 14 teams that took part, we came seventh.
“This year we are hoping to send a team for the All-Africa Games where pool is going to be played as a demonstration game.
“The All-Africa Pool Games are scheduled for Malawi in June and we are going to send a team and this is important. Players can be ranked in this competition and it is a requirement that we send a team.
“We are also looking forward to forming a national league as the numbers continue to grow. The response shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel and we hope we will get support from the corporate world,” Kennedy said.