The Uganda Pool National Team, the Pool Cranes are set to fly out to South Africa tonight Tuesday 10/10/2023 to participate in the Hawley cup; an international championship of the best Blackball pool playing nations of the world. The team will expected to fly out of Uganda with Kenya Airlines tonight at 3am and land at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa
The Hawley Cup is being hosted for the first time in the African continent so as that facilitate participation of African countries and to address the usual issue of lack of funds for movement of African teams to Europe or beyond.
The Hawley Cup is now an annual event listed on the Blackball International calendar; with both gender categories participating in individual and team events.
Following the late acquisition of the South Africa visas, the Ugandan Cranes are expected be the last team to arrive at the Grand Montecasino Hotel venue of the event.
The team painfully missed the recently held African Championship which was hosted by South Africa following their inability to secure the appropriate visa before time. Their absence in the major African Blackball event can explain the success for the South African team success where they achieved a clean sweet of all the gold medals in all the categories.
Mr Peter kyobe, Public Relation Officer of the Ugandan Cranes noted in his post on African Pool Players official, a Whatsapp group for African Blackball Players;
‘Better late than never, the team is ready to make the nation proud once again.’
‘Despite the delayed travel, our spirits are not broken. Our minds are focused on the mission. Nothing short of gold will do’, says team captain Habib Ssebuguzi.
Included in the Ugandan travelling delegate and team list are:
MEN: 1. Habib Ssebuguzi (captain) 2. Simon Lubulwa3. Ian Kazibwe4. Mansoor Bwanika5. Caesar Chandiga6. Ibrahim Sejjemba7. Kenneth Odong8. Joseph Kasozi
SHE- CRANES (Female team): 1. Faith Nganda (captain) 2. Rukia Naiga 3. Rasheeda Mutesi4. Rita Nimusiima5. Zaimatt Nabafu6. Rose Namugerwa 7. Marion Kisakye8. Sharon Mirembe
OFFICIALS: 1. David Mugabi (Head of Delegation) 2. Ismail Kalibbala (Tournament secretary and Technical head) 3. Peter Kyobe (Public Relations Officer)
Uganda who is considered a powerhouse of Blackball in the Africa continental missing out in the African Championship because of visa issue remains a major setback in the event organized by the All African Pool Association (AAPA) that featured 7 countries; Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia and host South Africa.
The Ugandan Crane visa experience remains a perfect example of why
‘Immigration, visa restriction and Ease of travel’ is a major issue facing sports development on the Africa.
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