Oluwasegun David, an ardent lover of billiard sports and advocate of pool sports in Nigeria, has advocated for increased awareness and development of pool sports, aiming at identifying and nurturing talented individuals from the grassroots level and propel them to international success by instructing them in the standardized, globally recognized techniques of the game.
David made the revelation when the leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ondo state Chapter, led by Segun Giwa, paid him a courtesy visit at his pool lounge in Akure.
He said his love for the pool game also made him invest so much in getting the approved pool (A-boards) at his entertainment hub, Fourteen75 Lounge, to attract players to play to international standards and nurture talents to participate in pool competitions in China.
Pool is a popular cue sport played on a table with six pockets, where players use a cue stick to strike balls and score points and requires skill, strategy, and focus. It’s enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels, from casual players to professional competitors.
Briefing sports journalists on the rules of the game, David said the pool game is a career-driven sport to discover talents who find interest in playing the game.
The Ayede Ekiti-born pool advocate sought the support of Ondo SWAN to propagate the benefit of the pool game, stressing that there will be a championship playoff scheduled to be held in June in Akure, with his pool lounge to host a competition to produce two representatives.
“In terms of corporate organizations, some people have taken it as a career and so, we need to see it more as a sport, not just a game for gamblers. The US for instance and the Europeans, employ a brand organisation to rebrand it. Before, players could wear anything to competition but now, there is a dress code and there are rules.
“The pool itself is the billiard game and being governed by the World Pool Association (WPA), they have come up with a lot of things on how to make the game much better and to be appealing not only to young people but to sponsors, the basic thing is that they want to catch in,” he said.
The ardent pool player said more awareness should be given to the pool game while dispelling rumours that the game is only for the rich and also a game for gamblers.
