Mombasa: The annual national pool tournament to be held at Kingston Resort Hotel in Mombasa has drawn players from across the country, with organisers urging the government to extend support to the sport.
According to Kenya News Agency, the tournament organiser, Jeff Kabugi, said the game is gaining popularity among the youth and can play a significant role in curbing drug and substance abuse if given more recognition. He appealed to the government to support the game in the same way it has supported football.
"Pool deserves to be embraced in schools, churches, and even mosques because it unites people of all ages. If the government supports us the way it has supported football, pool can grow to the grassroots level," Kabugi said.
He also urged the government to promote local manufacturing of pool tables and equipment, noting that most of the items currently have to be imported from South Africa and China. "Supporting local manufacturers to make tables and uniforms at affordable prices will greatly boost the sport," he added.
Kenya Pool and Billiards Federation Tournament Director Martin Kehato said the event was one of the most successful, with more than 200 players contesting in three categories. The competition featured a team event with seven teams, a men's singles tournament with 128 players, and a women's singles tournament with 32 participants.
"We are happy that Kingston has provided a platform for players to showcase their talent and to bring communities together. Teams came from Nairobi, Kitui, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa, showing how much interest the pool has generated in recent years," said Kehato.
He added that the federation is committed to professionalising the game so that players can earn a livelihood from it, as is the case in other countries. "We want to remove the notion that the pool is only a pastime for idlers. Our goal is to introduce it in schools, colleges, and universities so it can be recognised as a serious sport alongside football, basketball, or rugby," he noted.
Kingston team captain Frederick expressed gratitude to the players and fans who attended the event, saying the tournament was well organised and had been a success. The overall winners of the competition were Yusuf Farah and Peninarose Njoki in the men's singles and women's singles, respectively.