Finals (Best of 7):
Carol Kanzira 4-2 Hadijah Nakiredde
The tears of joy Kanzira shed just after her semi-final triumph over Brenda Tendo depicted what mission was scripted on her heart and it indeed spoke volumes of her life ambitions.
Failure to be the crowned Queen Title had haunted Carol Kanzira for a long time. “As a lady champion, it pains to miss the Pool Queen accolade in life”, Carol asserted to the writer during the 2013 Easter pool championships in Kabalagala.
The reigning 2012 Uganda Sports Press Association (USPA) Pool player of the year will no longer have such nightmares as she emphatically won the prestigious Pool Queen crown on Saturday at Club Lumas with a convincing 4-2 triumph over Hadijah Nakiredde.
Carol Kanzira had won everything to offer on the local Pool scene apart from one, the Pool Queen crown. The Crown comes forth with 500,000/=, a plaque, a crown and a certificate as well as bragging rights for being the best lady player.
The old English adage Champions are ex-losers who refuse to quit indeed lived to pass on Saturday as Kanzira had on one many occasions attempted to win the crown, and failed, but she did not ever think to quit the trend of pursuing that dreaded dream.
“I am very happy because I now feel a lady champion, glory be to God”, Kanzira, who could not control the emotions as tears rolled down her cheeks spoke to Kawowo sports after victory.
Enroute her winning heroics, Kanzira got a bye in the first round of 64, whipped Allen Nambiru 3-1, beat last year’s losing finalist, Janet Kaku by 3-2, defeated Phiona Nansubuga in the quarter finals before gritting her teeth to overcome fighting from two games down to beat pre-event favourite 4-2 in the best of 7 semifinals.
Come the finals, Kanzira, who has already booked a berth in the prestigious Nile Special Open pool championships due whose grand finale is set for 31stAugust 2013, had a smooth ride as it took her only 33 minutes to register a 4-2 victory over Nakiredde Hadijah in a thrilling final.
Kanzira pocketed ug.shs 500,000 courtesy of the organizers, Pool Association of Uganda, a golden plaque, branded certificate and a crown to cap her memorable feat.
“This title is a great stepping stone to the prestigious Nile Special event”, a jolly, who was joined by close friends Kanzira testified.
2012 champion, Jacinta Kajubi had a bad day at office as she was eliminated after two rounds by Justine Nampembwa.
64 ladies participated in the daylong event sponsored by Club Lumas,Pepsi, Eclipse and B-mobile. The first and second runners up received Ug.Shs 250,000 and Ug.Shs. 125,000 respectively and each of them a certificate of participation from the organizers.
Quater-finals (Best of 5):
Joan Nakayiza 3-1 Florence Ramona
Babra Nebbira 1-3 Hadijjah Nakiredde
Carol Kanzira 3-1 Nansubuga Phiona
Brenda Tendo 3-2 Rehema Nanyondo
Semi-finals:
Carol Kanzira 4-2 Brenda Tendo
Joan Nakayizza 4-3 Hadijah Nakiredde
Third Place-play-off (Best of 5):
Joan Nakayiza (Walk-over) Brenda Tendo
Finals (Best of 7):
Carol Kanzira 4-2 Hadijah Nakiredde
Previous Pool Queen Winners:
2012- Jacinta Kajubi
2011-Jacinta Kajubi
2011-Angella Busingye
2010- Winnie Tushabe
2009-Brenda Tendo
