Umbilo pool player heads to national comp
Although Raja Naidoo was not initially interested in pool, he has won several trophies across his 26-year cue sport career.
UMBILO resident, Raja Naidoo, is set to compete in the South African Black Ball Pool Championship on May 22 at Gold Reef City.
Naidoo started playing pool in 1996. While he has won several trophies across his 26-year cue sport career, Naidoo was not initially interested in the game. His heart was set on being a soccer player, a dream he gave up after he broke his ankle. Little did he know he would discover a passion for cue sports.
“I used to walk past Neers a pool hall in Phoenix every day but pool didn’t appeal to me at all. I never thought I would go and play there,” said Naidoo.
When he did eventually pick up a cue, his competitive streak came out.
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“There were little boys at Neers who would beat me and, being a guy who likes to win, I couldn’t handle it. So I went and bought a cue and within a week I was winning games,” he said.
He continued to play cue sports, while juggling his job at the South African Post Office and in 2006 Naidoo achieved his national colours. He went on to represent South Africa at competitions in Germany United Kingdom, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Ireland. Now Naidoo lives, eats and breathes pool.
“Everything I do in my life has to do with pool. I own a pool accessories and repair business for pool equipment in Overport,” he said.
He also coaches youngsters as often as he can.
“As a player, you reach a plateau where you won’t improve further unless someone helps you. I believe that you have to push yourself to the next level. If I can coach others and help them to improve, we will reach that level of professionalism that we need in the sport. It’s got to be entertaining to watch – people don’t want to see a player make a few attempts to sink a ball. If a game is entertaining it could be televised and bring in money to the sport,” he said.
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Naidoo spends the bulk of his time playing cue sports. “I play eight-ball for four to five hours a day and this increases as I get closer to a big tournament. I play for six to eight hours ahead of a competition,” he said.
The Umbilo resident also tweaks his diet ahead of a game.
For Naidoo, time spent practicing pool is time investing in his goals.
“I’m 52 years old and I still compete with juniors and in the open division. Whatever you put in is what you will get out. I wasn’t able to afford a coach, but there is plenty of information freely available online. I found a lot of tutorials to help me,” he said.
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