Three Rhodes University Pool Club members won gold medals at the Eastern Province U23 and U18 singles and doubles championships. This is the first time the club has taken part in the EP champs – this year during the weekend of 15 September.
Three Rhodes University Pool Club members won gold medals at the Eastern Province U23 and U18 singles and doubles championships. This is the first time the club has taken part in the EP champs – this year during the weekend of 15 September.
Cwenga Blekiwe won gold in the U18 singles, and Marc Jacobs won gold in the U23 singles, while Manqoba Hlatshwayo finished second and third place went to Shaun Gordon. Rhodes members also dominated the men's doubles event, with Manqoba Hlatshwayo and Zweli Hlatshwayo winning gold and Kevin McMenamin and Jacobs taking second spot.
“This was an outstanding achievement against fiercely competitive competition for our club and our players, that on our first appearance at this annual event we walked away with confirmation that Rhodes University Pool Club is producing the best talent in the province,” said McMenamin, chairperson of the club.
Jacobs, who won the men's singles and finish as runner-up in the doubles for U23 has been selected to represent Eastern Province U23 squad to compete at 8-ball nationals to be held in Worcester from 30 September to 6 October. McMenamin said the pool club currently boasts nine Eastern Province 8 Ball players.
EP 8-Ball U23 players from Rhodes are: Manqoba Hlatshwayo (qualified for the team as number one in the province), Zweli Hlatshwayo, Shaun Gordon, Kevin McMenamin and Marc Jacobs. EP 8-Ball women's players from Rhodes are: Milena Wolmerans, Candice Gardner and Caitlin Gibson. Blekiwe is currently ranked as the number one EP 8-ball U18.
Elsabé Rademeyer, secretary of the Eastern Province 8-ball association said: “EP is delighted to have these motivated players in our midst – with spirit and talent like that – EP will come back from the nationals with the trophies”.
