Finals (Men)
Fahad Ssewankambo 5-2 Gumisiriza Alfred
Finals (Women)
Kagoye Vivian 4-1 Mirembe Sharon
Fahad Ssewankambo over came a pack of over 150 pool players to win the 2013 Easter Pool Championships in style on Easter Monday at Capital Pub, Kabalagala in Kampala.
The 19 year old Skin Samona club player proved that great finesse and composure are two inter-twined attributes every successful pool player should possess. In fact, Ssewankwambo has just come of age because he was barred from competing at last year’s national open championships due to age factor.
A lanky Ssewankambo held onto his nerves to register a convincing 5-2 victory over Uganda’s Top seeded pool player in Alfred Gumisiriza a.k.a ‘Black Sheep’, who is also the reigning National Open winner.
“Alfred is a tricky opponent, beating him is more of a surprise but it does not surprise me neither should it surprise you today because i came to win”, a visibly excited Ssewankambo said shortly after the final victory that also saw him rewarded with 500,000/= and a glittering plaque.
En-route his remarkable Easter Victory, Ssewankambo endured a tough qualification game before overcoming Poulas Bisaso, Aziz Mulindwa, Umar Mutaaya, Onen Richard a.k.a “Nigeria” before facing last year’s losing finalist, Gumisiriza Black Sheep, who had beaten pre tournament favourite, Sula Matovu in the semis following an impressive come back from 3 games down to win 4-3.
“I hit Black Sheep with that perfect follow up shot after the break and i had to hide the white ball from him”, the soft spoken Ssewankambo revealed his winning password pin.
In the ladies’ Category, Vivian Kagoye was another surprise package as she carried the top honours with a 4-1 victory over Sharon Mirembe in the finals. Kagoye played to the advantage that the top seeds, Carol Kanzira and Vicky Namuyanja had a terrible championship to remember. Kanzira, 2012 USPA Pool player of the year faded at the round of 16 hurdle, at the hands of Rehema Nanyondo while Pool Association Most Valuable player, Vicky Namuyanja was bundled out in the quarterfinals by Brenda Tendo.
The 2013 Easter edition, that registered 152 men and 32 ladies will go down in history as the most competitive and pulled a string of surprises. Last year’s winner, Yves Kaneza was left in total tears after falling at the quarter final stage to Matovu Sula in a breath taking 3-4 loss.
“The competition is a a very healthy development for the development of the sport of pool in the country”, agrees, the event Secretary, Kayanja Robert.
The tournament, which had the 3 winners in each gender smile home with cash prizes was sponsored by Pool Association of Uganda and Capital Pub, Kabalagala. Action will now shift to the National Pool league which commences this coming weekend.
