City Power has a multi-award-winning champion in its midst. Soweto-born Beatrice Monyake (41) went against all odds to become the pool champion after winning the 2022 World Blackball Champion in Morocco. Monyake, who’s a Fleet Technical Adviser at City Power, represented South Africa at the championship in Tangier, Morocco. Her team was up against some of the world’s best from the US, Spain, Tunisia, Zambia, Ireland, Australia, and England.
While most contestants were supported financially and otherwise by governments of their countries, South Africans had to fund their flight tickets to Morocco, accommodate and feed themselves while there.
However, this did not deter Monyake, who went on to become the ultimate Champion. Monyake won medals in three categories including Gold – Singles; Silver – SA Team; and Bronze – Doubles.
“I am super excited about my achievement and overall performance at the World Blackball Championship. It was not an easy feat considering the resource challenges as I had to raise the funds to go there.
“However that did deter me as I knew that given the chance, I will come back with the winners’ medal. I am proud of myself and I hope this will basically motivate others to take this sport seriously, and go after what they believe is their dream,” said Monyake.
The pool champion said her hope is for the government to give support to the game of pool and other sporting codes that struggle to get sponsorship.
“It’s always an honour when I am called to represent my country at international pool events. But it’s a struggle as the game is not properly recognised and sponsored to enable those taking part to get support and sponsorships, even though we carry the country’s emblem and flag high in these events.
“My wish is for the government and the private sector to come on board and rally behind us to ensure we make our country proud at the international competitions,” Monyake added.
“Pool is already a popular sport in the country especially in poor suburbs and villages, and with government support to grow this and professionalise it, may actually assist in other social ills like poverty crime, and unemployment,” she added.
Monyake was the first black woman to represent South Africa at the Pool Championships.
The mother of one started playing pool as a hobby in 2007 in Orlando East and it stuck. Since then she never looked back and has won many competitions around Soweto and Johannesburg. She is the reigning Soweto Ladies Champion.
She has already represented South Africa internationally in other events including Africa Pool Championship Cup in Zambia in March this year where she finished 5th in the whole of Africa.
Written by Isaac Mangena
26/10/2022