Panic as pool clubs lose venue

The pool fraternity has been thrown into panic by the change of ownership of its top venue for competitions.

In July, the Pool Association of Uganda (PAU) received news that Club De'Arena on Namirembe Road that belonged to pool aficionado Bob Tamale changed ownership to the proprietor of Hannies Club on Rubaga Road.

This has worried the pool fraternity that it may lose the only standard venue in the country.

"We got communication from Geoffrey Mabirizi, the landlord, that we should contact the new management and find out if we can have our games at the place when the lockdown is lifted," PAU publicity secretary Peter Kyobe said.

"We have a pool table at the venue, but we only pray that the new management allows us to stage our competitions at the venue because that has been a prime area," Kyobe added.

De'Arena was home of Scrap Buyers, Kampala Central, and former champions CKI Pool Club that was dissolved last year.

Kyobe explained that the De'Arena has been strategic and players and fans from all suburbs of Kampala were finding it easy to access the place because of it being near the Taxi Park.

The venue has been redundant since April when the nationwide lockdown was announced by the ministry of health to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Efforts to get a comment from Tamale were futile as his known phone number was off.