BORCULO - The Dutchman Bennie Deegens has been nominated as the new President of the European billiards federation. He will fulfill that function at least until the CEB congress in June 2017. After the death of Wolfgang Rittmann, early this year, Deegens was the temporary stand-in for the German, who led the European league for many years.
Bennie Deegens (67) was the vice chairman inside the CEB board. He is also president of the three cushion section of the KNBB in the Netherlands. For his role inside the CEB, with a total of 26 federations, he was asked by Rittmann in 2013 during the CEB congress in Brandenburg. ,,He already knew me from the organization of tournaments, the Supercup in Haarlo, European Cup competitions and the Grand Dutch'', says the Dutchman, involved in all long-term issues since 2013.
The European federation, the biggest stronghold in the world federation, the UMB, is focusing under the leadership of Deegens to the preparation of the bi-annual European championships in Brandenburg. Wolfgang Rittmann was the driving force behind the organization. Deegens: ,,It is a mega-event with all disciplines of the billiard sports, so it is essential that it remains on the calendar.''
Deegens, from Borculo, is the only candidate for president with the unanimous consent of the current board and after consulting the federations. ,,The federations had the opportunity to register other names, but we didn't receive candidates.''
The congress will be held in Ratingen, Germany, on April 23.
Deegens will be president until June 2017, when the four-yearly congress in Italy is held and the full board (8) will resign. ,,They all intend to stand for re-election'', says the president. The board for now consists of: Bennie Deegens (president), Helmut Bierman (Secretary General), Rainer Selgrath (treasurer), Jean-Pierre Guiraud (sports director), Dietmar Schintgen (youth sports director), Gabrio Volante, Diane Wild and Carlos Borrell.