JEFFREYS BAY – Jeffreys Bay’s Crazy 8 Pool Club has cemented its position as the premier pool team in the Kouga League after achieving an unprecedented treble of championships in 2025, including an undefeated regular season record.
The club’s remarkable year began with victory in the Mayor’s Cup in March, when they claimed first place and the prize money.
This was followed by their crowning achievement, winning the top team award for the best team in the Kouga League after beating every single team without losing a game.
Club captain, Freddie Leander, said that the wins of the year meant everything to the team since it was their ultimate goal and the pinnacle of success.
“For us, it was a validation of our hard work, dedication and passion. It’s a feeling of pride, accomplishment and recognition,” said Leander.
The season culminated with the club successfully defending their summer league title against Big Brothers A team, delivering a crushing 13-2 victory in the finals, a record defeat for any finals played in the Kouga leagues.
Individual honours also went to Crazy 8 players, with Leander taking first place in the Kouga 8-ball league awards, followed by Rayneldo Blou in second place and Shandon Klaasen in third place. The seven-man roster that achieved this success includes Raymondo Plaatjies, Blou, Cedrick Swatbooi, Klaasen, Asif Ruiters, Leander, and Caiden Seejiram.
“Our team has chemistry, camaraderie and a shared passion for the game,” said Leander. “When we come together to play, we feed off each other’s energy and work towards a common goal, to achieve success.”
The club, currently based at Jolly Dolphin in Jeffreys Bay, was founded in 2018 by Nicarlo Walters, who tragically passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“The late Nicarlo Walters was a very generous and good-hearted person, always willing to help fellow players. He taught us the game and motivated us to become great players,” said Leander. “He wanted to make a big difference in our lives as young people because there were so many negative things in our community, like drugs and gang activity growing among young people in our area.”
Despite the devastating loss of their founder, the team persevered by holding onto the memory of Walters and working towards making him proud.
The path to success wasn’t without obstacles. The club faced several challenges this season, including injuries to key players, internal conflicts, tough opponents, maintaining focus, and balancing individual goals with team objectives.
Leander said that the club’s evolution has been gradual but steady.
“We evolved from second place to third place to becoming the undefeated champions,” said Leander.
He credited their success to years of dedication, hard work, strategic growth, setting clear goals and vision, attracting and retaining talented players, continuous improvement, building a strong team, effective leadership, embracing challenges and learning from setbacks.
The Mayor’s Cup prize money served a greater purpose beyond celebration, with the money used towards the team’s transport to Potchefstroom when they played for the Eastern Cape team at the Nationals event.
For the club, representing the top team in the Kouga League carries significant responsibility.
“It means wearing our community’s colours with pride, embodying its values. It’s about being an ambassador, leading by example, and inspiring others to follow in our footsteps,” said Leander.
Looking ahead to 2026, Crazy 8 Pool Club has ambitious plans.
They aim to host a major international tournament, start a junior development programme to reach more children in the community, and secure funding to build their own facility where they can teach most of the community the art of eight-ball pool.
Reflecting on their remarkable year, Leander said that the team felt amazing.
“It’s a collective sense of pride, joy and relief. As a club, we felt motivated, empowered and inspired to keep pushing boundaries. Most of all, it strengthens the bond within the club,” said Leander.
