Every year, the Professional Billiard Instructors Association honors a PBIA instructor who has made exceptional contributions to the goals of the organization. This year, PBIA Certified Instructor Galiek Saville of South Africa has been selected as the winner of the prestigious Jerry Briesath Instructor of the Year Award.

The positive impact billiards can have on a youngster’s life is first-hand knowledge to Saville. He was born in Cape Town and grew up in Mannenberg, South Africa. Saville describes his hometown as, “one of the most dangerous places in Cape Town, infested with gangsterism and drug abuse.” He attributes his positive arc in life to his mentor, Vincent Joseph, his youth billiards coach who exposed him to advanced concepts of the sport and the need to practice continually and avoid the distractions that life provides.

In 2020, Saville’s non-profit program, Pool4Change became an associate member of the South African Confederation of Cue Sports and in 2021 Saville partnered with the Billiard Congress of America’s Break and Run Premier Junior Instructional Program to develop a curriculum and teaching structure that applies on-line learning to reach more students. Since the collaboration, the program is available in 224 schools serving 14,000 students. Pool4Change ensures that each facility has at least one trained coach to help assist students at any time. The program is currently prioritizing equipment placement in schools and has currently put over 100 pool tables in schools since 2022.

When contacted with the news of his receipt of the Instructor of the Year Award, Saville was overwhelmed. “There can be no greater joy than being recognized for doing something that you love. Teaching, coaching and being a mentor to our youth gives me immense joy. Billiards is in my blood and sharing this passion with our youth and watching them perform both locally and internationally is the greatest reward. It is a great honor for me to be given the Jerry Briesath Instructor of the Year Award in recognition for my work as a PBIA instructor,” said Saville. “Thank you, Roy Pastor, for your faith in me and inspiring me to become an international instructor, the first in my region. My mentor, Mr. Joseph, I know he is looking down from heaven with a broad smile. To my family, you are my greateststrength.”

Saville was nominated for Instructor of the Year by Roy Pastor. Pastor is a PBIA Master Instructor who specializes in training junior players. Pastor won the Jerry Briesath Instructor of the Year Award in 2020 and inducted into the New England Billiard Hall of Fame in 2018. “No one is more deserving of the 2023 PBIA Instructor of the Year award than Galiek. He has spearheaded the growth of billiards in South Africa by focusing on the youth of his country,” Pastor explained. “Galiek is a founding member, and chief officer of the Pool4Change program, a non-profit organization dedicated to servicing the needs and challenges of school age children through cue sports. Through instruction, coaching, education, teamwork, and tournaments, the young people of South Africa are given tools through which to thrive. Galiek and the Pool4Change program have entered into contractual agreements with the school districts of several provinces. They are now working in approximately 320 schools providing opportunities to 14,000 students. Galiek has worked selflessly for his community, the children, and the sport.”

“Galiek has been an outstanding instructor for many years, but his work this past year is especially noteworthy. His Pool4Change/Break and Run youth program has helped young players start toward being the next generation of champions,” stated PBIA Committee Chair Keith Hargrave. “His progressive instruction methods not only reach young players all over South Africa, but his curriculum is also readily adaptable for all skill levels and offers continual motivation to get back to the table and improve.

Congratulations Galiek, this recognition is very welldeserved!”