Fungai Muderere
SEASONED Skittle Inn put up a spirited performance when they walloped Lobengula Sharks 8-4 in a 2019 Bulawayo Pool Association (BPA) Cup final match played at a packed Raylton Sports Club.
Under the guidance of their coach, Dumisani “Di Maria” Marira, a famed player of the billiards in the City of Kings and Queens, Skittle Inn had Lamulani “Master” Ndlovu, Morgan Ndlovu, Tendai Chirerere, Bezel Jack, Peterson Mangore, Edward Siziba and their die-hard fan Terrence Mhindu to thank for their latest achievement in a season where they interestingly beat Sharks back to back in the BPA league action.
“This shows that we have greatly improved as a club. It’s good for us as a team because you have to beat champions to be considered as one of the champions. The fact that we also beat Lobengula Sharks back to back in the league programme points to the fact that we were a consistent lot this season,” said an ecstatic Marira.
Skittle Inn concluded their BPA League campaign on position five with the top accolade going to tried and tested Entumbane. Lobengula Sharks and former champions Kings came out as the league’s first and second runners up respectively.
Meanwhile, the Carling Black Label National Pool Championships get under way on Saturday, with action to go on in the provinces for three weeks until the national finals are held at the end of the month.
Marondera, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Murewa/Mutoko, Rusape, Chitungwiza, Kariba and Hwange are the places where the activities are taking place on Saturday.
The next nationwide activities are lined up for 16 November with the last piece of action at provincial level on 23 November before the national finals take place on 30 November.
Winners from the provincial competitions will qualify for the national tournament.
In the finals, there will be 64 men and 32 women battling it out to win the desirable prizes that the sponsors are giving away this year. Carling Black Label will be rewarding the two winners, from the men and women’s divisions with a pool table and $10 000.
Delta Beverages said Carling Black Label is the beer that distinguishes the game of pool as a major passion point for its consumers and that is why the brand has sponsored the Carling Black Label National Pool Tournaments for many years now. The country’s leading beverage manufacturer said the sponsorship was driven by efforts to develop and reward the spirit of championship among its consumers.
At last year’s national tournament held at Raylton Sports Club in Bulawayo, Tendai Mubaiwa of Harare was the men’s champion with victory over Lewis Munyama also from the capital city. It was the second CBL National Pool Championships triumph for the man nicknamed “Inspector”, after he was the best male player at the same competition in 2015.
In the women, Charity Ncube of Kadoma was the winner, with success over Flatta Moyo of Gwanda. Ncube was also the women’s champion at a similar tournament in 2016.
