GODKNOWS Maravanyika of Chitungwiza has been elected chairman of the Zimbabwe Pool Association.

Maravanyika polled nine votes against the challenge of Godfrey Kondo of Bulawayo, who only managed three.

Sam Simenti from Matabeleland South will deputise Maravanyika after beating Midlands’ Vandirai Hove.

Munyaradzi Mudimu was retained as secretary-general, while Steven Chingwigwi (treasurer), Kennedy Tom (marketing and publicity) and Simbarashe Mhoya (development and technical) complete the six-member executive committee.

The new executive replaces the Trust Chifadza-led executive, which had been at the helm on an interim basis for the past eight years in a tenure characterised by infighting.

Maravanyika said his vision is to professionalise the sport so that it attracts corporate sponsorship and local pool players take part in international tournaments.

“Pool is by far the largest sport in the country if you consider the number of players playing the game at the moment. However, the challenge is that there have never been proper professional structures and I am happy that through the setting up of district leagues we can professionalise the sport,” Maravanyika said.

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