The race for the Golden Cue is beginning to tell its own story in the 2026 National Pool League, with the battle for individual honours closely mirroring the fight for supremacy in the team standings as the first half of the season comes to an end.
At the top, RoxBerry and Scrap Buyers are separated by just one point in the men’s standings, while their players are also leading the race for the individual scoring crown.
The contest has gained even more attention following a dramatic weekend in which Scrap Buyers ended RoxBerry’s unbeaten run, handing the league leaders their first defeat of the campaign at Oak Bar in Mbale on Sunday.
Despite that setback, RoxBerry remain top of the table with 41 total points after 15 matches, just one ahead of Scrap Buyers on 40. Both teams have recorded 13 victories, one draw and one defeat, setting up an interesting battle for the remainder of the season.
RoxBerry’s advantage is built on a stronger goal difference. They have scored 209 goals and conceded 73 for a difference of 136, while Scrap Buyers have scored 194 and conceded 97.
Their players are also setting the pace in the Golden Cue race.
RoxBerry’s Joseph Kasozi leads the men’s scoring charts with 41 goals, including six A, 17 B and 18 C scores. He has a narrow advantage over Scrap Buyers’ Ibrahim Kayanja, who is breathing down his neck with 40 goals from seven A, 13 B and 20 C scores.
Scrap Buyers have another player in the top three, with Glorious Ssenyonjo on 38 goals, comprising eight A, 12 B and 18 C scores.
One of the biggest stories of the first half, however, is Moses Omara. The Adi’s player has broken into the top four for the first time, an achievement that reflects his consistency and hard work.
Omara has scored 36 goals, the same number as RoxBerry’s Ssejjemba Ibra. His tally comprises six A, 19 B and 11 C scores, while Ssejjemba has registered five A, 15 B and 16 C scores.
RoxBerry’s Ian Kazibwe follows with 34 goals, while Club 408 have also made their mark through Shaban Kabila and Alfred Gumikiriza, who have both forced their way into the top eight with 34 goals apiece.
Shaban has recorded five A, eight B and 21 C scores, while Gumikiriza’s tally comprises 21 B and 13 C scores.
Beyond the leading two, Adi’s are third in the team standings with 33 total points from 10 wins, two draws and three defeats. Upper Volta are fourth on the same points, having won nine matches, drawn four and lost two. They have also collected two bonus points.
Wakiso City occupy fifth position with 30 points after winning 10 of their 15 matches, while Club 408 are sixth with 28 points from nine victories, one draw and five defeats.
Greater Mukono and Pot It complete the top eight, both on 22 points. Greater Mukono have six wins, three draws and six defeats, while Pot It have seven wins, one draw and seven losses.
Sinkers are ninth with 21 points, followed by Kireka on 20. E-Play occupy 11th position with 15 points, while Capital Night are 12th on 13, having played one match fewer than most of their rivals.
Corporate Shooters and Mbale are tied on 11 points, occupying 13th and 14th positions respectively. Tororo Tigers are 15th with nine points, while Nakawa are bottom on eight.
Mutesi leads women’s Golden Cue race
In the ladies’ competition, Mukono’s Rashidah Mutesi is enjoying a comfortable lead in the individual scoring race, although the contest behind her remains wide open.
Mutesi has scored 24 goals, comprising three A, 12 B and nine C scores, putting her five ahead of Samona’s Nabafu Zaimati, who has 19 goals from 11 B and eight C scores.
The battle for the next positions is particularly interesting, with four players tied on 18 goals.
Mukono’s Michelle Nandawula and Rukia Naiga are joined by Samona’s Aminah Faith Nganda and Ritah Nimusiima.
Nandawula and Nganda have each registered 12 B and six C scores. Nimusiima has 11 B and six C scores, while Naiga has 10 B and eight C scores.
Samona’s Jacinta Kajubi is seventh with 17 goals, while Bob Male’s Juliet Namuhanga completes the top eight with 16, including 13 B and three C scores.
The team standings suggest that the individual rivalry between Mukono and Samona players is no coincidence.
Both clubs have won six of their seven matches and drawn once, but Mukono lead the table with 20 total points, one ahead of Samona.
Interestingly, Samona have been more prolific in front of goal, scoring 99 against Mukono’s 92, and also boast a better goal difference of 67 compared to Mukono’s 44.
Bob Male are third with 14 points after four wins, one draw and two defeats, while Akaanya occupy fourth position with 13 points following an identical record.
Sinkers are fifth with nine points, Genesis sixth with six, She Scrap Buyers seventh with three, while Silver Back are still searching for their first point after losing all seven matches.
With the first half of the season complete, the numbers have given the Golden Cue race a compelling storyline. The leading scorers have stood out, but the competition behind them remains tight enough to keep the second half interesting.
RoxBerry will be keen to recover from their first defeat and protect their position at the summit, while Scrap Buyers have every reason to believe they can carry their Mbale momentum into the next round.
In the women’s competition, Mukono and Samona remain firmly in control, but neither can afford to relax with the other just a point away.