ESWATINI CUE SPORT NEWS FOCUS 2008 Blackball star Elisa out

MBABANE – She failed to attend the BOAB-sponsored National Ladies Pool Playoffs last Saturday.

Elisa Chambers, one of the late entries to the national play-offs for the country’s newest senior women’s national team since 2008, is not among the top eight players for the squad.

The last eight (8) of the Women’s National Pool Play-offs was selected following a round robin of group games at Correctional Services in Matsapha.

Initially, there were 19 players, but Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) Pool Club’s Sebe Mbingo had to withdraw in the eleventh hour as she was indisposed. The players were divided into four groups with the top two per group making it to the next round.

At least Elisa and Angel Mabaso are

Group A

Angel Mabaso

Dee Dladla

Group B

Ncobile Dlamini Nandipha Mkhwanazi

Group C

Simphiwe Dlamini Deli Mkhonta

Group D

Nikita Littler Thandiswa Dlamini

- 9 points - 6 points

former players in the 2008 Blackball World Cup and Africa Championships hosted by Eswatini in 2008.

Topped

However, only Mabaso could prove her mettle in Group A as she topped them all with 12 points which means she won every game. Coming second in the group was Dee Dladla on nine points. Elisa had been drawn in the tough Group B where Figaredo’s Ncobile Dlamini was the favourite to top the group, and she did with nine points. Joining her as second best was Nandipha Mkhwanazi, a seasoned pool and soccer star. The two topped the group, denying Elisa a second stint in the national team. “Last 8 will play on Sunday at Correctional Services. It was good competition. Elisa didn’t make it to the games unfortunately,” Eswatini Cue Sport Association (ECSA) Secretary Mbongeni ‘Mdlikiza’ Gamedze said.

He also explained that the eight remaining ladies were now all the new national team, but the next round would separate the top six required national team players and who came in as the two reserves. Basically, Eswatini now has a new senior women’s pool national team.