Maqabasa pots his way to glory

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Years of dedication and self-belief finally paid off for South Africa's newest blackball champion hailing from Plettenberg Bay.

Siyabonga Maqabasa has described his national title victory in George over the past weekend as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.

"Wow, it's huge to me. I've been dreaming about being crowned a South African champion, and now it has become a reality," he said.

Belief sparked in knockout stages
Maqabasa said his confidence surged at a decisive point in the tournament.

"The moment I reached the last four, that's where I realised I would win this nationals. That's when I knew I would be the new champion," he remembered.

The road to the title was far from easy. He described the team events as particularly demanding, with fierce competition among players all pushing for top seeding.

"That's where you must really fight, because everyone wants to be in the top five and compete for the number one spot," he said. Among his toughest opponents were players he faced in the later stages.

"There were two players who really tested me: Chix and Cameron Thops, in the quarter-finals and semi-finals."

Keys to success
Preparation played a crucial role in Maqabasa's success.

He spent two weeks training intensively at his home venue, N2 Sport and Pool Bar, where he focused on both his technical and mental game.

"They always made sure I could practise and even gave me a table to train alone. Mentally, I kept telling myself to stay focused and not take anything for granted."

Despite the pressures of a national tournament, Maqabasa relied on experience and composure to navigate key moments.

"To handle pressure, you must tell yourself every shot is important, every frame matters. That's how you stay in control, no matter the situation," he said.

Emotion overcame him after sealing the title. " This title really means a lot. I even cried. I couldn't believe I was the champion. Now I can see I'm going far."

Remarkably, Maqabasa has achieved his success without formal coaching, something he takes pride in.

"I've never been coached in pool in my life. That shows the talent I have; to win a national title without being trained by someone else, and for that I'm proud of myself."

Inspiring the next generation
Looking ahead, Maqabasa is determined to give back to the sport and inspire young players.

"My advice to young players is to stay disciplined - and that means no drugs and alcohol. Just play pool, enjoy the game and practise as much as possible."