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Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]

WHILE most 12-year-olds are occupied with video games, studies, or the internet, Victory Emmanuel Mhlanga has been honing his snooker skills since the age of 10. Following in the footsteps of his father, Howard, a prominent player in the Gweru

Pool League (GPL), Victory developed a passion for the game of snooker, played on a six-pocket table with 15 numbered and coloured balls and a cue ball.
Though originally played with all red balls in the 1870s and 1880s, the game now uses a standard set of multi-coloured solid and striped pool balls.

Standing at less than a metre tall, Victory has been defying all odds as he has mastered the art of hitting shots such as double, plant, draw, or the force follow stroke with precision — a development that has seen him being drafted into the first eight players who represent his Senga-based team, Elite Snipers Pool Club.

His exploits were identified two weeks ago when his team played Chauya Chikwata Pool Club from Mkoba 6 Shopping Centre. With the game tied at seven all with one game remaining, Victory was thrown into the game and, much to the utter amazement of the home team players and supporters, he emerged victorious, living up to his name.

With Elite Snipers winning eight to seven after Victory’s triumph, a prominent Gweru-based lawyer, Esau Mandipa of Mandipa, Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice, stood in awe and immediately announced that his company was going to award the gifted young man a full scholarship up to the level of education he desires.

Saturday Chronicle caught up with Victory and his father Howard who were both excited about the scholarship. Howard said that for his son to achieve the desired outcome, he normally uses motivational methods such as buying him a bicycle or clothes he sometimes admires.

Esau Mandipa hands over a scholarship to Victory Mhlanga

“I have now seen that talent pays, and we are proud to have signed the scholarship memorandum of understanding with Mandipa, Makwara and Chikukwa Legal Practice. Since it is not disputed that education is the key to success, the scholarship is a lethal weapon to destroy intergenerational poverty.

“The full scholarship package motivates learners to excel since the recruitment is based on merit. The package includes payment for school trips, which enables young people to understand life. It also covers the purchase of textbooks and gadgets that enable him to acquire the necessary information required by their curriculum, and the scholarship is indefinite, meaning a learner receives the package until the tertiary level of his choice,” he said.

Howard was born on June 20, 2012, Victory is in Grade 6 at Matongo Primary in Senga Area 2 in Gweru.
“He started playing pool in 2022 when he was 10. He used to go as a fan, watching me play,” he said.
Asked how he ensures that Victory balances school and playing pool, Howard said: “There is a time management chart at home, where after school he has two hours between 4pm and 6pm to play pool. We encourage studying between 6:30pm and 7pm, then between 7pm and 8pm we conduct participatory learning.”

Victory Mhlanga

Allen Nhira, chairperson of Elite Snipers Pool Club for the 2024 season, said he first saw Victory in 2022 when he used to watch his play because he owns pool tables.

“As a club, we make sure that all school-going players come and feel the pool table only on Saturdays, meaning they have plenty of time to study during school days and attend church services on Sundays,” he said.
Nhira said Victory has showcased his talent, skills, and maturity, and for that, he is always in the first team. Mandipa said he was thrilled to have awarded a full scholarship to Victory after learning of his traits in the game of pool.

“As a law firm, we feel highly honoured to have identified this young man and awarded him a scholarship. What is even more motivating is the fact that Victory is brilliant in class. He attends all classes, scores high marks in exams, and is disciplined,” he said.