Pool kings Gumikiriza, Sejjemba set for showdown
Friendly Foes. Ssejjemba and Gumikiriza (R). PHOTO | COURTESY
Two of the best players in Uganda, Alfred Gumikiriza and Ibrahim Sejjemba will battle this Friday in a ‘No Black’ Challenge.
The high profile game is being used as a curtain-raiser to the Pool Association of Uganda calendar activities in March. The winner of the Best-of-16 Challenge will earn the bragging rights in one of the best pool arenas – the Crooked Cue in Mukono.
If Gumikiriza wins tomorrow, it will not only be uplifting after conquering a cancer scare last year, he would have announced his return to where he belongs.
“This is a big day. I want to put my best foot forward,” said the man nicknamed Black Sheep..
Both players were tied as top scorers in 2019 when Sejjemba played for Capital Night as Gumikiriza thrived with Nyendo’s Klein. The battle is a unique event for probably the best in-form player Ssejjemba.
Ranked number one in Uganda and unofficially second in Africa, Ssejjemba, whose major triumph was in the Matthew Ngulube Cup Pool Tournament in 2019, will play his Ntinda Giants teammate with all eyes on the staked Shs2m. His other win is the Christmas Cup triumph in 2017.
Although he tends to fall short in short races, Ssejjemba is a complete player with exquisite cue ball management, defensive play and shooting. His exploits in Zambia during the Esther Lungu East and Southern Africa Pool Tournament, saw him narrowly lose 9-7 to African champion Aden Joseph.
At the 2019 Masters Pool Championship, Gumikiriza rallied from 5-5 to beat Ssejjemba 12-8.
