Uganda’s national pool team, the Pool Cranes, remains upbeat despite suffering their first defeat at the ongoing All Africa Ultimate Pool Championship in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The men’s team, who opened with a dominant 24–1 win over Namibia B, fell 15–10 to hosts South Africa C in a tightly contested second match. The result left Uganda third in the 14-team standings after the morning session.
Captain Rashid Wagaba admitted South Africa’s experience showed on the table.
“We lost to a more experienced and determined side,” he said.
“They controlled the tempo and punished our small errors. But we’re not giving up, our focus is on finishing strong and making the quarterfinals.”
Head coach Nathan Bwakosya remained confident in his team’s ability to recover.
“This is just one hurdle,” he said.
“The boys have the talent and discipline to go all the way. The spirit is high, and our goal is to reach the knockouts and fight for the title.”
Uganda still has four matches to play before the group stage ends on Wednesday, with the top eight teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
In the women’s category, Uganda had a mixed start, losing narrowly 13–12 to Kenya B before bouncing back with a 16–9 victory over Namibia. The win keeps them among the top seven and in contention for a quarterfinal spot.
Coach Bwakosya said both teams are gaining valuable experience from the tournament.
“The exposure our players are getting here is invaluable. It’s preparing them well for the singles competition,” he added.
The championship will shift to singles play on Wednesday, where Uganda’s top cueist, Caesar Chandiga, is among those tipped to shine.
The All Africa Ultimate Pool Championship features teams from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Namibia, and will climax on Saturday with both team and individual medal presentations.
