The manager of Broadway Eating House, Ms Theo Muthevhuli, urged the communities in Vhembe to become actively involved in sports and other educational activities.

She presented prizes to the teams that participated in the Broadway Snooker Tournament during a ceremony at Matopo Lakes Garden in Ha-Mutsha village on Saturday.

“We realised that when people are not doing anything over the weekend, they may end up involved in crime or abusing alcohol. Playing games such as snooker also help in socializing and people participating end up being friends,” said Muthevhuli.

According to Muthevhuli, her business also sponsors games such as ''old crocks'' soccer teams, and they encourage elderly people to participate in games that will help them to keep their bodies healthy.

The acting chairperson of the Vhembe Pool Association, Mr Peter “Livenda” Muravha, said the motto of the association was  Zero tolerance against crime ''and we hope playing snooker all over the weekend will help keep the people busy and to away from abusing alcohol''.

Muravha said the association was formed in 2011, after people found that there was no place to go over the weekend. “Snooker is played inside a business premises and it is another way of promoting the business as players eat and drink things they buy there.  We also encourage the owner of the business in which the game is played to provide food free of charge for the players,” said Muravha.

The overall winner of the Broadway Snooker Tournament was Matopo Lakes Garden, and its manager, Mr Tshifhiwa Mululuma, was over the moon after the tournament. “The game makes us develop good friendships with other players. Snooker also suited us as elderly people, because we are no longer able to play soccer well,” said Mululuma. Matopo Lakes Garden received R2 000 as the winners of the tournament.

Muravha appealed to a Good Samaritan to help sponsor the snooker games and tournament. Interested businesses or individuals can phone him at 072 1260 267.