Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER credible performance representing the country at the World Pool Association (WPA) Heyball Under-19 tournament last year, Bulawayo teen pool sensation Richard Mushobe (17) is next month set to play in the Heyball Masters contest in China.
Heyball — a brand name for Chinese Eight-ball pool — is a hybrid cuesport.
It is played on a smaller sized snooker table that has napped cloth and snooker-style cut pockets.
American pool balls are used, and the object of the game — in simple terms — is to pot either the “spots or stripes” ball set followed by the eighth-ball to win a frame.
Having originated in China, the sport is now gaining popularity and coverage worldwide. Several well-known snooker players have recently travelled to the Far East to compete.
“Last year in mid-November, I was in India representing the country in the WPA Heyball Under-19 tournament where I reached the last 16 stage. I think I gave a good account of myself. Pool is a sport that is promising to grow in the country and I am happy that this year I will compete in the Heyball Masters contest that is set for in China in April. My father has always been encouraging me to consider playing with big and mature players in order for me to further develop my skills,” said Mushobe who plays for Queens Pool Academy.
Mushobe is a former Maranatha High School pupil and his Queens Pool Academy are the Bulawayo Provincial Pool Association (BPPA) reigning champions. They won the 2024 league title without conceding a single defeat.
The Heyball Masters in China, is scheduled to take place from 26 April to 9 May.
The National Heyball Association of Zimbabwe has already conducted a qualification tournament to select the country’s representative.
The heyball body has outlined a tentative programme for continental and invitational tournaments set for this year.
Zimbabwe received an invitation to participate in the 2025 Heyball Masters tournament in China, with Heyball generously covering expenses of the Zimbabwe Pool Association (ZIPA) president and one athlete.
In 2024, through private funding, 12 athletes, comprising eight males and four females, were able to represent the country.
The standout performer, Malvern Mukonza, was unfortunately eliminated in the round of 128, just shy of the lucrative money stages.
Among the African countries in attendance, Zimbabwe boasted of the largest delegation.
Another invitation was extended for a male and female athlete to partake in an event in Australia. However, due to financial constraints and visa issues, Zimbabwe was unable to field participants.
An invitation was also received for the India Under-19 heyball tournament and despite concerted efforts, a female player within the specified age group could not be identified, underscoring the need to attract more young female players to the sport.
The male Under-19 representative Mushobe, exhibited a commendable performance, narrowly missing qualification beyond the quarter-finals.
-@FungaiMuderere
