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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Women Pool Association held their first national tournament of the year at Gukez Garden in Kwekwe over the weekend.
The tournament, which was won by Maria Mubata, was attended by 43 players from different provinces in the country. Mubata, who is also known as “Highway,” defeated Christine Sengwe 5-4 in the final.
She took home US$160 for her win while second placed Sengwe pocketed US$120 for her efforts..
In a highly contested final, Mubata emerged victorious 5-4 to scoop the first prize of the tournament.
The tournament has been hosted before in different provinces around the country as the association tries to spread women’s pool across all corners of Zimbabwe.
With winners taking home prize monies, ZWPA development officer Priscilla Mujakachi said they are slowly adjusting the sport to make it professional.
“Its not as easy for this sport as always been seen as a bar sport. However, we have gradually adjusted to see it as a professional sport that has brought income on the table,” she said.
She added that they are looking forward to putting women in pool on the limelight and take it to the region and even internationally.
ZWPA has tournaments lined up until the end of year. The next edition will be played on 11 March in Harare at Southlea Park.
Mujakachi said having more women attend was a big positive and they are looking forward to growing and competing with their male counterparts.
“The biggest takeaway is that more women have joined the sport and we look forward for more. There is a lot of growth for a lot can even compete with the male counterparts.
“We are inviting more women to be part of the sport for it gives liberty confidence and income on the table,” she said.
Seeing the numbers grow in every tournament, Mujakachi said it gives the board success in that they see more women joining in and seeing the benefits of being women and taking the sport to the next level. -@brandon_malvin
Online Reporter