Kasungu Club through to finals of Carlsberg Special Brew Pool Tournament
Kasungu Pool Club are the regional champions for the north in the Carlsberg Special Brew Pool Tournament after punishing Whispers from Luwinga, Mzuzu, with a three straight win in the regional finals played at Ngomambi Entertainment Centre in the city of Mzuzu over the weekend.
Out of the sixteen teams that took part in the northern region, Whispers and Kasungu Pool Club made it to the finals.
In the first frame, Blessings Nyangulu represented Whispers to face Joe Mvula for Kasungu Pool Club. It was Joe Mvula who was magical with his cue stick, sinking more object balls than his counterpart. He managed to finish sinking his balls and finally pocketed the black ball leaving Blessings Nyangulu with a number of object balls unpocketed.
In the second frame, Bestone Gombeleka arose for Whispers to challenge Yohane Mustafa for Kasungu Pool Club. The two players showed maximum focus on the game but it was Yohane Mustafa for Kasungu Pool Club who was sharp with his soft and hard shots. He emerged the winner.
Owen Kuthawa stepped up for Whispers to face Lafa Kachingwe for Kasungu in the third frame. It was a fiercely contested frame as both players sunk all their balls leaving just the cue ball and the black ball on the table. It was however Lafa Kachingwe who managed to pocket the black ball first to register a three straight win by Kasungu Pool Club over Whispers of Mzuzu.
This then means that Kasungu Pool Club will participate in the national finals that will take place on the 29th of October, 2016 at Zitherepano Leissure Park in the Lakeshore district of Mangochi.
Speaking to Nyasa Times after the final game, Team Manager for Kasungu Pool Club, Samuel Malumbo Chimwaza who is Assistant Floors Manager at AHL Group and owner of New Malume’s Bottle Store in Kasungu, said his team prepared very well for the regional tournament and that they never underrated any team.
He said he was quick to realize that the game of pool brings together people from all walks of life just like football and decided to start managing a pool club in Kasungu.
“As a club, we believe in putting God first and hard work together with team spirit. We hope to do better at the national finals in Mangochi,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Sales Representative for Carlsberg Malawi, Chancy Mvula said Carlsberg as a company realizes that many Malawians go for Carlsberg brands but also enjoy the game of pool hence the need to honour them with sponsorship for a national pool tournament besides the Carlsberg Football Cup.
“My only plea is that wherever pool is played, let losers accept defeat honourably and winners celebrate without offending the losers because in any game there must be a winner and a loser,” remarked Mr Mvula.
Vice President for Malawi Pool Association (MAPA), Mathews Munthali described the regional finals as a success saying there was fair competition.
“With the coming in of Carlsberg, the game of pool has a bright future. As MAPA, we will ensure a fair game and discipline at all levels. We thank Carlsberg for the initiative and we believe the tournament has come to stay,” explained Munthali.
And on his part, MAPA representative for the North, Brown Mkandawire, said Carlsberg have taken the right path in promoting the game of pool.
“How many people take Carlsberg in Malawi? So many! And Carlsberg enjoys better annual profits through their daily sales. With this sponsorship, they are coming back to Malawians with a huge smile and we thank them wholeheartedly,” he retorted.
Whispers went away with K70, 000.00 as runners up while Sportsfield and Club DC, both from Mzuzu, got K50, 000.00 and K30, 000.00 as prizes for the third and fourth positions respectively.
There was no prize money for Kasungu Pool Club as their victory earned them a place in the national finals where they have a chance of winning K650, 000.00, K500, 000.00, K300, 000.00 or K200, 000.00 which are prizes from the first to the fourth position.
Four teams will battle it out in the national finals representing the northern region, the central region, the eastern region as well as the southern region.
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