The landscape of Zimbabwean cue sports is undergoing a massive shift, and at the center of this revolution is Blessing Muzarurwi.
Known affectionately to his fans as "Bibido," the talented player is officially transitioning into a professional heyball athlete in a move set to redefine his career and elevate Zimbabwe's standing on the international billiards stage.
Behind every great athlete is a strategic mind, and for Bibido, that guiding force is his manager, Kelvin Matibiri.
Matibiri, who also serves as the digital marketing manager for Liquid Lounge which is a rapidly growing premium pool spot in Shamva,views this transition not just as a personal milestone for Bibido, but as a blueprint for the commercialization of the sport back home.
The first major step in Bibido’s professional journey is a high-profile development trip to Cape Town, South Africa, where he will train at the newly opened, state-of-the-art Sessions Billiard Club.
This makes Bibido the first Zimbabwean heyball player to utilise the facility and test its cutting-edge tables.The trip is anchored on elite mentorship, specifically targeting the expertise of prominent pool figure,Craig Bouwer.
"For us, it’s mainly mentorship," says Matibiri. "Blessing is turning pro in heyball, so we really need all the help we can get, and we feel Craig Bouwer will help Blessing in that regard. He is already incredibly talented, but we feel if he gets expert advice from him and his team, we will have a complete player who can compete on the grand stage."
While the primary focus remains intensive training, the camp is also holding out hope for a competitive litmus test, with Matibiri noting they hope to secure "one or two matches in the later stages of our visit.”
Backed fully by the ownership of Liquid Lounge, Matibiri is using the trip to study international benchmarks in venue management, technological integration, and digital marketing.
"Exposure is the best teacher," Matibiri explained. "Liquid Lounge is growing as a host of Pool Billiards Tournaments in Zimbabwe, so I intend to go and see how other venues are setting up to attract customers and utilising technology and social media just like what Craig Bouwer has been doing on YouTube to promote Sessions Billiard Club."
Liquid Lounge, who are Bibido’s primary sponsors, has grand designs for its base in Shamva. The venue is currently being upgraded into an all-encompassing lifestyle and sports destination, offering a mix of premium music, food, accommodation, and swimming.
While the venue is currently buzzing as a hub for the ongoing winter World Cup football screenings, a massive digital launch and a heavy lineup of summer events are on the horizon.
The road to this professional breakthrough has not been without its bumps. Matibiri candidly reflects on a turbulent past year characterised by "misfortunes and breakthroughs," including parting ways with former top player Malvern “Maluva” Mukonza.
"We had our fair share of good and bad days with Maluva, but he is a good player with so much potential," Matibiri reflected. "My focus now is Blessing and Liquid Lounge. The young man is humble and hungry to learn, always asking questions which sometimes I don’t even have answers to. It’s a good challenge ahead."
Though Matibiri admitted his own competitive playing days are mostly behind him save for the occasional casual challenge, he has found his true calling in talent development.
“I am confident that I am good at grooming players and able to notice where they need to improve. It’s easy if you are working with someone who listens like Blessing,” he added
Bibido’s transition comes at a time when local pool infrastructure is booming. Matibiri notes that standard-setting arenas are popping up across the country, citing venues like City Scape, Eshca Chimbwanda’s new establishment, Under Inspection run by Tendai Mubaiwa, Earthquip run by Tatenda Mutombo and their own newly opened PoolFrenzy Arcade in Highfield.
However, a critical glass ceiling remains: corporate sponsorship and government recognition.
"We are in the right direction... the only challenge left is recognition from the Government," Matibiri asserted. "We have players like Eshca, Sakala, Maluva, and Blessing doing wonders on the international scene, but they are not recognized at all. The moment we get government recognition, I believe corporate sponsorship will fall into place."
The expectations for the Muzarurwi-Matibiri partnership are sky-high. heyball, a discipline that demands absolute psychological and physical precision, requires a synchronized team effort.
When asked where they see themselves in twelve months, Matibiri’s response is uncompromisingly confident:
"In a year, I believe Blessing will have brought silverware to this nation because we are going to put in the work. Heyball is a sport that requires the whole team firing on all cylinders, and we are up to the task. Definitely, Liquid Lounge will host a major tournament."
With the backing of a forward-thinking establishment in Shamva and an elite training stint in Cape Town on the immediate horizon, Bibido’s professional chapter might just be the catalyst that pushes Zimbabwean cue sports into the global limelight.