Blackball champion achieves his goal
Yasien Allie from Eldorado Park wins the SA National Blackball singles champions.
It all started with a goal when he was just nine-years-old to become the South African Champion in Pool, and thirty years later Yasien Allie has achieved his goal. The reigning 2021 Blackball SA Champion won the games in the SA National Blackball Federation tournament which took place at end of August.
Allie who is originally from Ennerdale but lives in Eldorado Park explained that becoming the champion has just been an amazing experience. He returned last year to the sport after a ten-year break and joined Jamilians Pool Club in Eldorado Park.
The champion was only nine years old when he started playing pool with his late father and recalls that he started playing league games at the age of twelve.
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“I always tried out for the nationals but did not make it because I was still inexperienced. I always played eight-ball but then we were introduced to SA Blackball Federation. This year we played in the nationals as a team. It was my first time in the nationals and it was really exciting meeting people from different provinces and playing against people who come from different backgrounds,” said Allie.
It was in the single games where Allie came in first place and became the champion but his team also did exceptionally well. “I would just say that it was an amazing experience for my first nationals, I only expected to be in the top ten,” he added.
Allie mentioned that his late father has always been his biggest inspiration since he was the one who taught him the game. “There was one final that I was playing and I made a mistake, my father pulled his face and I could not even look at him but then he came to me and said that I should not worry about it because there will always be other opportunities,” he said.
Allie is now teaching his son the game and he is also nine years old and has already played his first tournament. The Champion said that there has been talk about an All Africa Games where if its confirmed, he will be one of the guys who will go represent South Africa.
Allie would like the youth to get involved in the sport and would also
like to start a mentorship programme or a school of excellence to teach the sport in the community.
“My wife Candice Allie has been my biggest supporter, she motivated and encouraged me to go for it. I must say that it was my wife that gave me the courage and the confidence to play my best,” concluded Allie.
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