The hunt for Uganda’s Pool royalty kicks off this weekend as qualifiers for the prestigious King & Queen tournament commence across seven locations nationwide. The road to the national finals, to be held in Jinja on June 21-22, promises intense competition and rising stars vying for glory.
This year marks a historic moment for the event, with qualifiers being introduced for the first time since its inception in 2009. The national finals will have 64 men and 32 women, with the top eight men and top four women already securing their spots.
Excitement is brewing in Kireka at Were Beri, where former Seed One Ibrahim “Musiraamu” Kayanja will headline the qualifiers.
Musiraamu, as he’s commonly known, will face competition from regular qualifier Emma Chuol, Eric ‘Rick Ross’ Nagaba, Mustapha Bwire, Ivan Kafureka, Ian Kazibwe, William Mirembe and the dark horse Bob Kateregga, will be in the mix.
Ladies turn-up still low in the Tooro qualifiers with only seven women having registered ahead of the weekend action while the men’s entry list had 21 participants.
Kenneth Turyatunga, the competitions secretary of Tooro Pool Players Association (TOPPA) and the PAU coordinator for Kasese remains optimistic of the qualifiers.
Ivan Murungi, Tooro’s finest player will fight for his place with rising star Fazil Turinawe, who is leading the TOPPA League with 69 points. Murungi is second with 68 points so far. Other players expected to set up the challenge include Lola Isagara and Allan Nsubuga, who were among the top eight finishers of the Labour Day tournament that was won by Ian Kazibwe.
Sofian Komaliba is another player expected to shine.
“We have many good players and I hope we shall present someone who will be in the cash prizes during the national finals in Jinja,” Turyatunga said.
In the Greater Mityana finals that will be held at Half London Hotel, the highlight of their qualifiers is Pool Cranes captain Amina Faith Nganda, who will seek qualification from a venue that is holding a national event for women for the first time.
She will be in the company of former Scrap Buyers star Jovia Nakimuli and upcoming stars Fatha Mumbejja of Jinja and Ciara Wanyana of Amigos in the fight for the two places to the national finals in Jinja.
Among the men, all eyes are on Alpha Amanyire, the regional winner of the Nile Special Open qualifiers who will lead the Mubende team alongside UPDF officer Alex Luwalira. They will face off against Greater Mityana’s number one player Joseph Balikuddembe, who finished among the Last 16 in the Nile Special National Open final in Lugogo last year.
Greater Mityana regional coordinator Lukwago Ssali is optimistic although they were yet to raise 20 players by yesterday.
“This is the first time for us to have a PAU arrangement in our activities especially for women. The response has been low but I know numbers will be there before the draws on Saturday. I expect 32 participants for men but among the women we expect at least 16 players,” Lukwago said.
Mukono qualifiers promise to be as dramatic as the build-up. The Black Sheep Arena, owned by former Pool Cranes captain Alfred Gumikiriza was stripped of hosting rights and handed to Itaano Pool Arena.
Gumikiriza, the 2012 national champion, has opted out of the qualifiers citing personal issues.
“I have not been training and trying to settle my mind,” Gumikiriza, who is setting up a new arena at Mwai Lounge in Mukono, said.
A host of upcoming players will spice up the event that already boasts of big-name players. Willy Yiga, Ronald Akampurira and Najib Matovu, who qualified for the National Open last year, will fight for the available four places alongside Pool Cranes captain Habib Ssebuguzi. Allan Kayiwa will also be in the mix.
The women’s draw still looks wide open with only three-time Pool Queen Vicky Namuyanja the biggest name in the mix of amateurs.
