Student protests affect pool league launch

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 24, 2017 15:42

Botswana Billiards Confederation (BBC) spokesperson, Marang Morolong said they decided to postpone the launch because the two institutions have four teams affiliated to BBC. He said the event will be held at a later date when the unrests have been addressed. Meanwhile, Morolong told Mmegi Sport that there has been some changes in the name of the association.

He said initially they were called Botswana Pool Table Association (BOPTA) but changed at the advice of their compatriots, the South African Confederation of Cuesport.

“We have a formidable relationship with South African Confederation of Cuesport. We have been in constant communication with them seeking advice on various issues because they have been in existence for a long time. One of the things they told us to change was the name of the association,” he said. Morolong said they realised that the changes were important. Morolong said the name change is meant to accommodate other cue sports under one body. He said some of the codes are not yet introduced in Botswana.

Those codes which are included under BBC are pool which has eight balls, nine balls and the other one with ten balls. The other codes are carom and snooker.

The association became a Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) affiliate last year, entering as BOPTA. Morolong said they have approached the BNSC to explain the changes to their name.

“They have welcomed the development. We are now working on setting a new date for launching our league and taking the sport to the nation.

As a new affiliate we are expecting the BNSC grant to assist us in pushing our mandate. At the moment they have not informed us how much they are giving to our code,” he said.

BBC affiliates are Matsubutsubu, Acres, Botho, UB and New Era. Morolong said Boitekanelo College and GIPS are in the process of becoming members. He said it is a slow start because people still have a negative perception about billiards games. He said the games are always associated with alcohol, a myth that they are working hard to fight.