Nile Special National Pool Championship 2016:
- Final: Fred ‘Bonde’ Namanya 5-7 Sula Matovu
- 3rd Place: Humphrey Nsubuga 5-1 Fahad Ssewankambo
‘It’s been a long time’ went the lyirics of music icon King Saha as C.K.I club pool player Sula Matovu readied himself for the final shot to pot the ball home.
Matovu won his first ever National Pool Championship after overcoming 2009 winner Fred ‘Bonde’ Namanya 7-5 at the Lugogo Indoor Stadium on Saturday night.
It required the camera replay to confirm Matovu’s victory as excited fans crowed the table at the last winning shot from the Skin Samona Pool player.
Namanya, who plays at Hot Pool club drew the first blood winning the first frame with ease, potting all the seven balls as Matovu remained with five on the table much to the amusement of the crowd which included two Members of Parliament, Odonga Otto and Charles Bakabulindi, the State Minister for Sports in Uganda.
Matovu made amends after winning the second game to make it one all. Namanya once again took the lead having won the third game.
The gallery was yet to experience more thrills as Matovu made it 2-2 with a B finish.
Namanya once again restored his lead with a clinical performance in the 5th game as he took the lead 3-2.
Matovu made it 3-3 with a B-score having broken the frame.
For the first time in the game, Matovu took the lead to make 4-3 by the end of the 7th game.
Matovu extended the lead to 5-3, building a two margin lead. At this time, Namanya, winner in 2009 requested for the much needed breather – the first time out of the game.
Matovu still utilized the break optimally as he extended the lead to 6-3 before Namanya pulled a game back to make it 6-4.
In a remarkable come back, Namanya pulled yet another game back winning the 9th game to narrow the gap 6-5.
Matovu won the final frame winning the end shot requiring a video replay.
He had the full bragging rights to chorus a song “I’m a winner” at the podium moments before the official prize giving ceremony.
Meanwhile, Humphrey Nsubuga finished third at this year’s championship, just like in 2015 having humiliated Fahad Ssewankambo 5-1 in a one sided third place finish.
The winner drove home a brand new car and pocketed Shs2M with a pool table.
Semi-finals:
Ssewankambo Fahad 3-5 Sula Matovu
Namanya Fred 5-3 Nsubuga Humphrey
Quarter-finals:
Fahad Ssewankambo 5-4 Oscar Ocakacon
Mubiru Dan 3-5 Fred Namanya
Sula Matovu 5-2 Jimmy Okello
Alfred Gumikiriza 3-5 Nsubuga Humphrey
Round of 16:
Fahad Ssewankambo 4-2 Tuzinde Isa
Godfrey Kaggwa 2-4 Dan Mubiru
Oscar Ochakchon 4-3 Moses Mukwaya
Godfrey Ssetumba 3-4 Sula Matovu
Kiggundu Majid 1-4 Alfred Gumisiriza
Fred Namanya 4-2 Richard Kizito
Simon Lubulwa 1-4 Jimmy Okello
Navy Matovu 3-4 Humphrey Nsubuga
All Winners:
2001 – Bob Meneni
2003 – Jeff Miiro
2008 – Jonah ‘Joker’ Turigye
2009 – Fred ‘Bonde’ Namanya
2011 – Halifan Ntwali
2012 – Alfred ‘Black Sheep’ Gumikiriza
2013 – Jonah ‘Joker’ Turigye
2014 – Fahad ‘The Bee’ Ssewankambo
2015 – Amos ‘Real Shooter’ Ndyagumanawe
2016 – Sula Matovu
