There was some sort of resemblance to what happened two years ago. Edward Byaruhanga came out top in front of the partisan crowd at Kabale’s Agaba Tevern as the Nile Special National Pool Open qualifiers took center stage over the weekend.
Having had a tough outing en-route failing to reach the national grand finale last year, the 2011 Kabale champion emerged best again with the cue with astonishing displays to ensure his return to the pool grand finale due August 31 at Lugogo Indoor stadium.
Byaruhanga came from 3-1 down to defeat Kenneth Muhanuka to win the best of seven final 4-3 before declaring intentions for the Toyata Progress – the staked prize for the overall national champion of the cue.
“This is a good comeback for me,” he said in ecstasy. “My next target is the car when I get to Lugogo next month.” he added. The eventual champion had broken similar sweat at the semifinal stage against Norman Kizza. He lost the first of the before taking the next two to take the lead and eventually the decider game five, Kizza having leveled proceedings in game four.
However, Moses Arinaitwe, who had dominated Ibanda for three consecutive years, did not have similar fortunes this time round. He was bundled out in the quarter finals and the district will be represented by the pair of Collins Cohen Mulangira and Aleku Azaza Jundi.
NILE SPECIAL NATIONAL POOL OPEN QUALIFIERS
WESTERN REGION RESULTS
Kabale
E. Byaruhanga 4-3 K. Muhanuka
Ibanda
C. Mulangira 4-2 A. Jundi
Ntungamo
J. Nabasa 4-0 P. Mbabazi
Rukungiri
D. Namanya 4-0 A. Muhereza
Mbarara
I. Rukundo 4-1 K. Mugenyi