The snooker section at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) has secured another sponsor ready to stage this month’s Snooker Mug Tournament, which is scheduled to kick off from May 20 to 26 at the club.
DGC Snooker Secretary, Fatma Yusufali told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam that Dar based company A. A. Powers and Tools Ltd is the latest firm which has come forward to support the monthly tournament.
“We’re planning to have our May Mug event at the club as usual and we are delighted to say that A. A. Power will be our major sponsor of the tournament,” she said.
Yusufali added that the company has been keen supporter for the game for many years and that they are very grateful for the commitment they have shown.According to Yusufali, other latest game sponsor to come forward was Joseph Tango, the Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) Vice-Chairman, who sponsored last month’s event.
She said that the section was bracing for excitement at this month’s tournament as top club players are now busy shaping up themselves to display skills.
The players expected to vie for the top honour includes veteran Raju Kanabar, who is still searching for his first silverware in the tournament this year, after failing to spark in the previous events.
Others include March sponsor Rupesh Soni alias ‘Gugi,’ who is also Division B April champion, Ashik Merchant, Nikhil Sangani, Pocho, Manish Khattar, Kishore Ramanuj,
Shashi Dave, Modessa Chagan, Tango, Abraham Sykes, Sajjad Salehbahi, Akhil Yusufali, Ali Gulamali, Hitesh Valambia, Ramesh Lathigra, who is the April Division A champion and Captain Firozi Yusufali.
The snooker fraternity will also have to wait and see if there will be going to be a rematch between two top seeded players–March Division A champion Arjun Lavingia and Dar Open champion Omar Balsara.
The pair could not face off as widely expected in the last month’s edition as Arjun went out in semi-final, while Balsara failed to show up in his quarter-final match due to other responsibilities.
Thrills and entertainment ruled as the two gifted top snooker players clashed in the March Mug final, which Lavingia won by a 3-2 frames. It was just a month after Dar Open final, which Balsara won 4-3 frames in the best of seven.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News
