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Andrew: Namibia’s first junior at Heyball World Champs

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Namibian cue sports sensation Jamal Andrew (17) is set to face his biggest test yet, as the first junior player to ever represent the country at the Juniors Heyball World Championship in Australia.

He departed for the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) tournament yesterday ahead of its run from Saturday to Wednesday in Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Andrew is set to go up against the finest from across six continents. He was selected for the competition by the Namibia Cue Sports Federation (NCSF), following his outstanding performance last year.

The prodigy was the standout under-19 player at the Black Ball League from May to October and went on to impress at the playoffs event, the Champ of Champs tournament, that followed in November in Walvis Bay.

Here, he was ranked first among the under-19 participants and 27th out of 176 competing players overall.



A force to be reckoned with

Despite having only been in the sport for two years, he has proved to be a force to be reckoned with and is well on his way to making himself a household name in Namibian cue sports.

Speaking to this publication about where it all started, he recounted one night in 2023 at Windhoek’s King Cues when what seemed like just another night to be a spectator cheering on his brothers as they competed in pool turned out to be a pivotal moment in his life.

“I have always enjoyed watching my two older brothers, Jermain Andrew and Jurgen Uirab, play pool, which motivated me to start practising on the sidelines.

“So when one night they needed a partner for the Black Ball League, I volunteered to step in and the rest was history,” he remarked.



‘I am still in shock’

The teenager admitted that the magnitude of getting a call-up to the flagship event on the Chinese Eight-Ball calendar is yet to fully sink in.

“I am still in shock at the opportunity the cue sports federation has granted me. I want to thank our Heavenly Father who made this possible for me. It means a lot and it is a great honour to represent my country at this level,” he noted.

Although he admitted to the pressure as Namibia’s trailblazer at the tournament, he embraced it. “Pressure makes me perform better!” he quipped.

He added that he is looking forward to learning new skills at the event. “It’s my first time flying to a tournament overseas, so I am eager to go and witness how cue sports players do it on the big stage.

“I promise to do my best and not only put our country on the map but make everyone proud,” he assured.



No Heyball table

Andrew revealed that preparations for the tournament have not been easy due to a lack of dedicated Heyball facilities.

“We don't have a Heyball table in Namibia, which makes it very difficult. But my two older brothers, Jermain and Jurgen, also play pool and motivate me to become better,” he said.

Reflecting on local competition, the homeschooled pupil acknowledged strong competition from his fellow cue sports players. “We have very strong local competition, which keeps me motivated and on my toes late at night after school.”

Andrew further extended special thanks to his parents and supporters. “My parents, David and Stephanie Andrew, are my biggest supporters. Big thanks also go out to my sponsors who helped make this possible.”

He will represent Africa in a contingent of 11 other boys and girls players from Morocco, Uganda, Eswatini, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone.

The team will be led by All Africa Pool Association (AAPA) vice president, Doreen Wandia of Kenya.

According to Namibia Cue Sports Federation spokesperson Charmaine Kotze, nine countries have so far confirmed their participation in the championship.

She added that the NCSF is working diligently to ensure Andrew is not the last athlete they send to the global showpiece. “We have great plans for the future of cue sports in the country,” she assured.

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