Female players adjust to life without pool

Many female pool players have had to learn the hard way, the importance of having other things to do outside of playing pool during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Sharon Mirembe, 27, is among those that have found the dog eat dog situation caused by the current Corona Virus pandemic manageable if one has a separate skill set.

The suspension of sports activity including the Ladies Pool League has kept many players homebound and it has forced some to explore creative ways to earn a living during these tough times.

A good number of the women in the male-dominated sport have had to become tougher in order to survive but it's just not easy.

"Most players have just been home doing nothing although some have been continuing with training since they shifted their pool tables back home," Mirembe said.

With their most trusted source of income cut off, many like Mirembe have resorted to other passions like teaching and farming.

"Personally I have been digging, writing books and doing homeschooling. I am planning on starting to teach online so we can provide a child with a tablet, earphones, digital writing pads and workbooks," she explained.

Mirembe is currently doubling as a nursery school teacher and is finding creative ways to survive whilst also fuelling her passion as a young farmer since her cocoa investment has started yielding crop in Sekanyonyi.

"I together with my family have been investing in cocoa for the past six years, so when we were in the lockdown we started harvesting," she stated.

While the times are looking up for her and her potential students the situation is still dire for most of her colleagues.