By Tatiana Mhararira
Masvingo Pool Association (MAPA) launched fast ball pool tournament series on February 18, 2025 at Landmark Bar, bringing together all pool players around Masvingo to witness the new initiative.
The fast ball series will run for the next three months, every week with the turnout expectation being 50 individuals per tournament.
The tournament launch had 42 participants who paid US$3 each for registration and competed in the race-to-five completion where the winner would be the first to win five games.
Fast ball is the fastest game in pool where two opponents take turns to clear a rack of seven balls, which were initially organized in a hexagonal tray before the break was initiated. The ball tray comprised of six balls of two groups of balls (three solids and three stripes) and one black ball.
The first four winners walked away with groceries and the individuals who were in the last round of eight of the tournament received airtime as their prizes.
Speaking to TellZim News, the man currently running Landmark Bar and MAPA Vice Chairperson Kudakwashe Mudekunye s said they created the fastball initiative to promote the sport of pool in Masvingo.
“The fast ball pool series initiative was created by MAPA which is chaired by Knowledge Nzombe to promote the sport of pool and try in a way to be modern in terms of how pool is being played in other countries and also trying to modernize the way people play the sport.
“We want to diversify the sport just like in athletics where there are 100metre races and 400metre races because some are good at fast ball where they are few balls and some are good in the standard pool,” said Mudekunye.
Mudekunye said the fastball was different from the standard pool in terms of incentives as most of the tournaments gave monetary prizes but the new initiative had groceries as prizes.
“Most of the pool tournaments hosted in Masvingo are based on monetary incentives but the new one is more based on basic need incentive such as groceries from toiletries, rice, flour, soap, cooking oil, sugar and washing powder.
“We had a smaller registration fee giving room for many youths to take part but also getting a chance to win groceries as their prizes and some cash,” said Mudekunye.
Speaking to TellZim News, the man who spearheaded the sponsorship, Gain Supermarket Manager, Elijah Chakanyuka said as Gain they sponsored the tournament because they wanted to give back to the community and pool was one of the fastest growing sport
“As Gain we are giving back to the community for their support and continue building lasting relationships and this is the beginning of a long journey with MAPA.
“Pool is one of the fastest growing sport and its attracting a number of participants’ especially unemployed youths and those in informal businesses. The sport is also friendly and attended by a number of people from different professions. We have used pool as a way of marketing our Gain brand,” said Chakanyuka.
Edward Charumbira the first winner won US$25 cash prize a box of pizza and some groceries, the second winner from the tournament was Behaviour Makuvaza who walked away with US$20 cash prize, a box of pizza and some groceries.
The third runner up was Wayne Mudhefi and the fourth runner up was Given Judge Mutamba and they received cash prizes of US$15 and US$10 and groceries as their prizes respectively.
Speaking to the first winner Edward Charumbira, nicknamed Master said he was happy with winning the tournament and he was excited with the groceries because if he won money he could not have bought groceries.
“I was happy with winning the tournament even though it’s not the first time but it’s the first time going home with a prize of groceries worth a big amount which I never thought of.
“If I had won money I was not going to buy such groceries for my family but this type of prize is worth to celebrate. All in all I’m in full support of the basic grocery incentive over money and my family is also grateful with the initiative as they are also benefiting from the sport,” said Charumbira.
