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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE highly anticipated Queens International Blackball Pool Tournament which was recently held at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo has been described by the organisers as a huge success as it saw a huge turnout of both local and international players.
Sanctioned by Zimbabwe Pool Association (ZIPA) and Bulawayo Pool Association (BPA), the tournament saw the coordinators take everyone by surprise by pulling it off. A total of 64 players took to the tables to battle it out for the top honours and celebrated South Africa, Jeremiah “Ganda Ganda” Naidoo emerging as the overall winner.
Naidoo won the final 9-2 against Zambia’s Derick Nyathi to lift the coveted first prize trophy and take home the prize money of US$2 000. Losing the final meant Nyathi went away with US$US$1 000 and was followed by Tlimante Mzamo from South Africa who got US$700. Zimbabwe’s Stanley Marko finished in the fourth position and pocketed US$400.
“It was a great success, we surprised the whole of Africa, no one thought Zimbabwe could pull this off,” said Queens Pool Academy vice president Archie Scholtz.
With Marko being the only Zimbabwean player at the top, Scholtz said they are proud of their players who gave it their all on the tables adding that hosting the event was a learning experience for their young players.
“Hosting top African players and our young boys played their hearts out, particular mention to Stanley Marko from Bulawayo who was number four and also the young Timoth Onida who beat Africa’s number one, Aiden Joseph.
“We are delighted to note that our Bulawayo lads learnt a lot from the tournament. The youngest player of the tournament Craig ‘Pipiro’ Nkala lost to the Zambian King, Adebayour 9-7 after a great battle, I am certain he took a lot out of the game. Other youngsters who did well from the City of Kings are Richard Mushobe and Givemore Chipapata who are all part of the Under-21s in the city,” said Scholtz.
He added: “This tournament has helped a lot to develop one of the goals of Queens Pool Academy which is to nurture the young Bulawayo pool players in the sport and life in general as we also spread the words ‘No to drugs and no to crime.”
During the course of this year, Queens Pool Academy played host to the Zimbabwe Women Pool Association competition, National Elite Players Association of Zimbabwe (NEPAZ), MAYEZ, Bulawayo Under-21 and BPA Cup tournaments among others. This tournament was the perfect year-end for Queens Academy and the city. – @brandon_malvin
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