West Rand pool right on cue
The Western Gauteng 8 Ball Pool Federation's youth league is growing from strength to strength.
Less than four months after its initiation, the Western Gauteng 8 Ball Pool Federation’s youth league has grown in numbers four-fold, and is still going strong.
The youth league was launched by Westerns as they saw a need to develop the sport on the West Rand, and has grown exponentially since. “We started out with seven or eight players in the first week of the youth league, and we now have over 30 taking part,” said chairperson Asharaf Gard.
The federation only has pub facilities available to practise; however, because of the history and perceptions about the sport, they are doing their level best to dispel these notions.
“It’s not just a pub sport anymore, it is starting to become more widely accepted as a gentleman’s sport,” said the federation’s development officer, Debbie van der Vyver. “We all wear neat attire when we play, and all the children must adhere to table-side rules that demand the utmost respect for your opponent.”
https://www.facebook.com/WGPOOL/videos/1041748732639529/
For Debbie and Asharaf, respect is just one of the many benefits that children gain from the sport.
“It helps them become more social and they also need high levels of concentration,” said Debbie when mentioning a couple more benefits.
“We have had a number of parents coming back to us, pointing out how their children have become more social. Their schoolwork also really improved,” Asharaf emphasised.
Currently only two clubs in Roodepoort are willing to accommodate the children – Shooters Pool Hall and Club 40. The clubs grant the children and their coaches four hours every Saturday to train. When their doors are closed to the public, the tables are opened.
At the moment, the federation is preparing for the nationals in October, to which they will be sending two U/18 teams and one U/23 team. This will be the first time that Western Gauteng is able to send two U/18 teams, and according to Asharaf, they will be needing some assistance when it comes to funding.
“To travel to nationals is costly, and we are appealing to anyone who is able to assist in making these children’s dream to play at nationals come true.”
If you would like more information on the federation, or to assist in some way, contact Asharaf Gard on 079 078 109, Debbie van der Vyver on 072 095 0974, Rudayba Gard on 076 459 5635 or Riaan Fritz on 076 482 2004.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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