BY MAGRETH RUZVIDZO RECENTLY-CROWNED national female pool champion, Someya Mlauzi has expressed her delight after a memorable week in which saw her victorious at the 2022 Carling Black Label National Pool finals held at Reserve Bank Sports Club.
Mlauzi bagged the $700 000 prize money after beating her opponent Erica Manyangadze 5-2 in the final.
All eight winners walked away with prizes of $700 000 and a pool table each.
The first, second and third runner-ups got $350 000, $200 000 and $100 000 each, respectively.
In the men’s category, Pearson Nyasha was the winner while Munashe Dombojena came second, Hillary Mukumure third and Steven Mazuve was fourth placed.
For the women’s category, Manyangadze was second-placed, while Edith Maunganidze came third ahead of fourth-placed Angeline Muzopambwa.
In an interview with NewsDay Sport, Mlauzi called for others to join the sport.
“I can’t express how happy I am, I’m really grateful. Even though I came first at the competition, I just want to encourage my fellow mates that they also stand a chance to win in upcoming competitions,” she said.
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“To all those who do not understand the sport, I just want to encourage them to learn more about pool, it has transformed my life. I managed to listen to those who mentored me to be where I’m right now.”
Nyasha said he was glad for being a champion for the first time and called for more sponsorship in order to motivate participants.
“I was glad to win this tournament because it’s my first time to be a champion of the Carling Black Label tournament. I used to end in the quarter or semi-finals. I’m honoured to have been representing the Zimbabwe Defence Forces and I’m glad that people can now see that the uniformed forces can also do good in sport,” he said.
“There is a challenge in sponsorship, if we secure more sponsorship; I think the sport will progress well. Like now I won a pool table, so you can see that it can transform your life.
“People think pool is just a mere sport, but it’s an entertaining sport. I think in order to develop our sport; there is a need to introduce pool in schools.”
The Carling Black Label Pool tournament has been running under the sponsorship of Delta Beverages for over 10 years.
It is run in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Pool Association.
- Follow Magreth on Twitter@MagrethRuzvidzo
