Tiyani Hahlani
Centre Sport Hub
MASVINGO – Pride Mananavire and Charity Mafiyo emerged victorious at the Masvingo Provincial Carling Black Label Pool Tournament after producing impressive performances and were crowned champions in the male and female categories, respectively, at Ralton Sports Club on June 27.
The tournament attracted more than 100 players from across the province, who battled through a highly competitive field for provincial honours and lucrative prizes.
Mananavire clinched the men’s title ahead of Liberty Neshumba, while Takura Dhuwa and Kudakwashe Mago finished in third and fourth positions respectively.
In the women’s category, Yeukai Pool Club’s Charity Mafiyo was crowned champion after an outstanding campaign.
Abigail Peresu finished as runner-up, with Martha Rwizi taking third place and Ester Mutambanevengwa settling for fourth.
The men’s and women’s champions each walked away with US$200 in cash, five cases of Carling Black Label cans and a tournament T-shirt in recognition of their achievements.
Speaking after her triumph, Mafiyo described the victory as one of the biggest moments of her cue sports career.
“This victory means a lot to me because it reflects the hard work, discipline and dedication I have put into improving my game.
Winning the provincial title is a proud moment, not just for me but for everyone who has supported me throughout my journey, especially Yeukai Pool Club,” she said.
Mafiyo said consistent training, patience and self-belief were key to her success throughout the tournament.
“I prepared by practicing regularly, working on my shot accuracy, cue ball control and consistency. My mindset was to stay positive, take one match at a time and never underestimate any opponent. I believe my patience, focus and determination gave me the edge because I stayed composed even in difficult situations,” she said.
She revealed that coming from behind to win a tense semi-final proved to be the turning point in her title-winning campaign.
“Winning that match gave me confidence and reminded me that I could handle pressure. From that point, I believed that if I stayed focused and trusted my game, I had a real chance of becoming champion,” she said.
Mafiyo paid tribute to Yeukai Pool Club, saying the club had provided her with a platform to train regularly and learn from experienced players whose encouragement played a vital role in her development.
She also said that winning the provincial title was only the beginning, with her sights now firmly set on excelling at higher levels of competition while inspiring more women and girls to take up the sport.
Tournament organizers are expected to release further details on this year’s competition, including participation figures and an assessment of the event.
The championship once again showcased the depth of pool talent in Masvingo, with players displaying skill, determination and sportsmanship throughout the competition.
