The national Supa-Pool student team have a distinctly Eastern Cape flavour following the inclusion of five of Fort Hare’s players.
On the back of UFH’s fine showing at last week’s USSA tournament in Cape Town, where both the men and women made their respective semifinals, the selectors named three men and two women in their elite squad.
Making the cut among the men were Lutho Tati, who placed third, Anathi Mbutuma (seventh) and Asekhona Petela (ninth).
Among the women, Siphokazi Ndzuzo (second) and Sinesipho Ngqinambi (third) were chosen to don the mythical green-and-gold.
“I am very proud of them,” manager Babalwa Malimba said. “We always want to make sure our students are chosen.”
The Fort Hare women placed third overall in Bellville while the two men’s teams only just missed silverware after ending the competition in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Petela proved the university’s best player in the singles, earning himself a bronze medal.
During the week, each member of the UFH team played a staggering 50 games across singles and team formats with Tati accumulating the most points to earn his third-place ranking.
Sinesipho Ngqinambi is one of five Fort Hare Supa-Pool players selected for the national USSA squad. Photo: Full Stop Communications
Malimba praised coach Akhona Saba for mentoring both the men and women at the tournament after, originally, being appointed as the custodian of the latter.
“The best of the best were in Cape Town and Akhona really pulled through for us,” she said, praising his inspirational team talks among other things.
“I could see and feel his presence.”
Though delighted about her charges’ national recognition, she was disappointed with Fort Hare’s overall position following mishaps at crucial moments.
She did however concede that their pre-tournament practice regimen had been interrupted when renovations to pool tables took longer than expected.
With one team based in Alice and the other in East London, they also had to deal with venue issues.
This has prompted Malimba to explore new ways of running the sport at the university to maximise their potential.
“At the moment we still have separate teams. We are now thinking about having one institutional team playing at one venue.”
She explained that the two campus teams only came together for the USSAs a week prior and that it had not been enough time to prepare them adequately.
They also needed more competition time to hone their game in tight situations, she felt.
Nevertheless, Fort Hare’s Supa-Pool flag continues to fly high.
Malimba, who for the first time in five years did not feature as a player at an USSA event, is currently representing UFH as a support official at the CUCSA Games in Pretoria.