Visa hitch hits pool hard in an otherwise a good season

Dec 17, 2014

Despite the challenges, pool scaled some good height in the 2014 season.For the first time, Uganda fielded a team to the Africa Pool Championships in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in November.

By Samson Opus

Despite the challenges, pool scaled some good height in the 2014 season.


For the first time, Uganda fielded a team to the Africa Pool Championships in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in November.

The Ugandan women scooped a silver medal after finishing second to South Africa. It was a remarkable achievement for a team making a debut, against seasoned teams including champions South Africa, Zambia and Malawi.

However, Uganda’s bid for a shot at the team event in the World Pool Championship in Scotland hit a snag after the team was denied visas.
To Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) chairman Farouk Kisuze, the visa scandal was a major disappointment of the season.

The positive news was that pool rode high on the sponsorship table after Nile Breweries injected sh1.1b to the Nile Special Open. It was a major increment from sh570m in the previous edition.

Samona PC claim double


To Kisuze, however, all is not rosy because of limited cash. “The kind of sponsorship we receive from most of our partners is in kind. The fact that we don’t have enough cash makes our operation very difficult,” says Kisuze who singled out Nile Breweries to thank for the financial support.

Skin Samona Pool Club heralded themselves as team to beat after winning a double in the season. The club, boosted by the financial muscle of patron Ssalongo Kasawuli Mukasa, regained the Senior Pool League title and retained the Club Knockout Cup.

Samona, spurred on by a top cream of players including Number One seed Fahad Ssewankambo, seed three Alfred Gumikiriza, Asuman Bukenya, Sula Matovu and Amos Ndyagumanawe, proved indomitable in the season.

The quartet played a pivotal role for Samona as they saw off a spirited challenge from Nakawa Rangers to win the Club Knockout Cup 11-7 in the final.

Gals’ girls shine

In the women’s category Gals Pool Club claimed the league title while Indigo bagged the Club Knockout Cup.

On the individual front Ssewankambo justified his rating in the country when he dethroned Jonah Turigye to win the Nile Special Open.

Ssewankambo beat Ivan Kanyesigye to win the top prize of a Toyota Brevis car and sh2m.

Seed Number 7 Amos Ndyagumanawe was master for men while Vicky Namuyanja carried the women’s accolade.

Seed three Alfred ‘Black Sheep’ Gumikiriza returned to the victory podium after winning the Kampala Open Pool Championship on Sunday

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