By Tatiana Mhararira
New Horizon Pharmacy recently partnered with Masvingo District Pool Association (MADPA) to sponsor an open tournament which brought together all pool players around Masvingo District on February 1, 2025 at Landmark Bar in Masvingo town.
The tournament, which had 64 participants used the race-to-four format where each individual who won four games first became the winner and proceeded to the next stage of the tournament.
Five ladies participated in the tournament but they used Bobs Tavern for their tournament.
The prizes for winners were allocated as US$150 for men and US$50 for women.
Speaking to TellZim News, MADPA Technical and Development Officer Phillip Pfundo known as Tindo in the pool circles said Runesu Zvarevashe who runs of New Horizon Pharmacies sponsored the tournament and called for more partnerships from other businesses.
“The tournament was a success and players displayed good discipline. We are happy that from our association few to zero players are still engaging in drugs thus our tournaments are also acting as anti-drug abuse campaigns.
“Some of the players who are not employed are now making a living from playing pool which is one of our achievements,” said Pfundo.
In an interview with TellZim News, ladies category winner Lisa Marumbwa said she was excited by winning the tournament saying she never expected to win.
“I am happy because I was not practicing for some time due to off season break. I was not expecting a straight win being crowned the champion in the ladies category,” said Marumbwa.
She said the ladies category had low turnout because ladies had no individual sponsors.
“People think that pool is only played by men that’s why we have a limited number of female pool players in Masvingo district as compared to Harare and Bulawayo.
“Lack of sponsorship is one of the things which reduces the number of ladies who play pool in Masvingo. There is need for well-wishers to also sponsor ladies so that pool as a sport will grow,” said Marumbwa.
The male category winner Donald ‘Donoro’ Mutero who walked away with US$150 said the tournament was tough but he was happy that he sailed through.
“I am happy that I won the first tournament of the year. It’s been long since I last played pool so my chances of winning were very slim even though I have a history of winning.
“The competition was tough but my defensive style of playing well known as touch touch assisted me in winning this tough tournament thus I maintained my winning legacy,” said Mutero.
The tournament was part of the MADPA preparations as the main league is set to kick off on February 22, 2025.
