A Matie pool player will don the green and gold following her selection to the national team for the World Blackball Championships in Morocco later this year.
Shaiyene Britz from Stellenbosch qualified for the singles squad that will compete for the coverted world title in Tangier, Morocco from Saturday 8 to Saturday 15 October.
Britz, who has been dabbling in the sport for more than 12 years, is excited about the opportunity of representing South Africa on a global platform.
“I am honoured to be able to take part in an event of this magnitude,” the 21-year-old related. “I have ended up ranked number nine in the women’s category out of more than 70 pool players, although I know I could have done better. I am proud, because I played against people with 20-plus years of experience. I can only improve from here on out.”
This year’s world championships will be the second time the member of the local Die Boskatte club shows off her skills in an international competition. “My first international tournament was in Russia in 2018, when I represented SA in nine-ball.”
Maintaining a balance between her studies towards a degree in social work and playing pool is presents quite the challenge for the talented youngster, but it is one she takes in her stride. “I play league matches on Monday evenings and Sunday afternoons, and I try my best to practise at least once a week. With my studies, it is quite difficult to sustain a practise schedule so I just practise whenever I can.”
Britz will need more than R20 000 to cover her travel, accommodation and kit expenses for the tournament, and requests anyone who would like to contribute to her success to contact her on 063 769 3796.
