Vic Falls outclass opponents

Nkosilathi Sibanda in Hwange
PLAYERS from Victoria Falls put on a flawless performance to outclass their opponents in the inaugural Hwange District GVZ Leisure Centre Pool Tournament during the Easter holiday.

The tournament attracted 10 teams, with several talented players drawn from the nearby villages of Dinde and Dete.

ZRP Hwange were second, but their exploits endeared them to the multitude of fans that thronged the tournament venue, with the event’s most outstanding player Nhlanhla Matsheza leading the charge.

Points came in droves for the Victoria Falls contingent in the last frames of the contest.

Wounded by the embarrassing defeat to rural minnows earlier in the third round, Victoria Falls charged and arranged the table to suit their play. It worked and they took the silverware.

Players from the resort town declared their intent for honours from the onset with all of them cruising through the first round by sinking the black ball in a record time.

The Dinde team pulled a shocker in the third frame by beating the Victoria Falls side led by Batsirai Chikonyera.

Owing to the high turnout of participants and spectators, tournament organisers are mulling the idea of affiliating with the National Pool League in a move aimed at formalising the sport in Matabeleland North.

Only Victoria Falls and Hwange enjoy national recognition as a number of players from both towns feature in the highly acclaimed annual Carling Black Label national pool tournament.

Fikile Mafigo, spokesman for the GVZ Leisure Centre Pool Tournament, said there could be no other time to start playing professional pool.

‘We’re going ahead with registering with the game’s regulatory body. The plan is to give the players a platform to be recognised. There have been calls from all over the district to start a league and we’re going to do that,” said Mafigo.