Caesar Chandiga rolled back the years on Sunday December 21, with a masterclass in composure and precision, reclaiming the national pool championship at Lugogo Indoor Stadium in emphatic fashion.
Up against the red-hot Rashid Wagaba in the men’s final, Chandiga was forced onto the back foot early as Wagaba stormed into a 2–0 advantage.
But the seasoned cueist refused to panic. He steadied himself, absorbed the pressure and waited for his moment.
That turning point arrived when Wagaba faltered on the black, opening the door for Chandiga to strike. With clinical efficiency, Chandiga seized control, stringing together four consecutive frames to flip the contest on its head and wrestle momentum firmly into his grasp.
From there, the final unfolded entirely on Chandiga’s terms. Wagaba attempted to mount a response and briefly narrowed the gap, but Chandiga’s wealth of experience told. He dictated the pace, capitalised on every mistake and calmly wrapped up a commanding 9–5 victory.
The triumph etched Chandiga’s name deeper into national pool history, making him only the third player to lift the championship trophy twice. It also handed him bragging rights in a well-known league rivalry.
Upper Volta dominated proceedings, with both finalists emerging from the club after Roxberry’s hopes were dashed in the semifinals.
Captain Ibra Sejjemba and top seed Joseph Kasozi bowed out at that stage, leaving the spotlight on Chandiga and Wagaba.
Emotion spilled over at the final shot. As the last ball dropped, Chandiga collapsed to the floor in jubilation before sharing an emotional embrace with his Zambian wife and his mother, a touching moment that capped a memorable morning.
Earlier in the day, the women’s final delivered its own landmark achievement. Rashida Mutesi announced herself on the national stage by capturing her maiden championship title with a composed 7–4 victory over defending champion Marion Kisakye.
Mutesi flew out of the blocks to claim a 3–0 lead, showing remarkable calm for a first-time finalist. Although Kisakye threatened a comeback during a tense middle stretch, Mutesi regrouped, tightened her control of the table and closed out the match with confidence.
The win marked the biggest success of Mutesi’s career, crowning a breakthrough performance and underlining the emergence of a new force in women’s pool.
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