Pool body fails in the regions

THE Namibia Pool Association has failed to set up regional structures and develop the sport in the regions, its president Klaus Roerkohl admitted this week.

Roerkohl made the statement before the association received a N$60 000 sponsorship for the Carling Black Label National Pool League from Castle Brewing Namibia on Tuesday night. He said the aim of the association for the 2005/2006 season was to develop pool in the rural areas, but admitted that it has not been very successful.”It seems that many players, and not only in the rural areas, do not like playing in organised structures or leagues, but prefer to play the game socially,” he said.Roerkohl currently serves as the secretary of the All Africa Pool Association and he also admitted that the structures in Africa and the World Pool Association were in total disarray.”In South Africa, the two pool associations are involved in in-house-fighting,” he said.He said despite that, the Carling Black Label National Pool League is growing steadily with 103 players participating last year – 89 men and 14 women.He said 125 individuals are participating in the league this year – 109 men and 16 women.He said Namibia will send a men’s and a women’s team to the African Open Championships next year to give young players a chance to test their skills against more experienced opponents.”These teams will not compete as Namibia, but privately entered teams,” he said.He said in the past there used to be friction between the Namibia Pool Association’s committee and some clubs, while there were also problems among the players about issues not related to the game.”But now it seems that the pool community is in harmony.When I hear about the problems that other sporting codes are experiencing I feel glad that we seem to have addressed the players’ concerns,” he said.Roerkohl said for the first time in six years a team from the previously disadvantaged community has an excellent chance of clinching the league title.This team, Rainbow Warriors, was founded in 2005 and has only lost two games this season whereas Mozzarellas (defending champions) and King Cues have lost three.Castle Brewing corporate affairs manager Albertus !Naruseb said over the years, pool has proved itself as a competitive and social sport played by thousands of people in Namibia every week.He said the aim of the association for the 2005/2006 season was to develop pool in the rural areas, but admitted that it has not been very successful.”It seems that many players, and not only in the rural areas, do not like playing in organised structures or leagues, but prefer to play the game socially,” he said.Roerkohl currently serves as the secretary of the All Africa Pool Association and he also admitted that the structures in Africa and the World Pool Association were in total disarray.”In South Africa, the two pool associations are involved in in-house-fighting,” he said.He said despite that, the Carling Black Label National Pool League is growing steadily with 103 players participating last year – 89 men and 14 women.He said 125 individuals are participating in the league this year – 109 men and 16 women.He said Namibia will send a men’s and a women’s team to the African Open Championships next year to give young players a chance to test their skills against more experienced opponents.”These teams will not compete as Namibia, but privately entered teams,” he said.He said in the past there used to be friction between the Namibia Pool Association’s committee and some clubs, while there were also problems among the players about issues not related to the game.”But now it seems that the pool community is in harmony.When I hear about the problems that other sporting codes are experiencing I feel glad that we seem to have addressed the players’ concerns,” he said.Roerkohl said for the first time in six years a team from the previously disadvantaged community has an excellent chance of clinching the league title.This team, Rainbow Warriors, was founded in 2005 and has only lost two games this season whereas Mozzarellas (defending champions) and King Cues have lost three.Castle Brewing corporate affairs manager Albertus !Naruseb said over the years, pool has proved itself as a competitive and social sport played by thousands of people in Namibia every week.