Four youths to represent Malawi at African Schools Chess Championships

Four youths left for Zimbabwe on Friday on their way to represent Malawi at the African Schools Individual Chess Championships in Harare and notable development is that all have been sponsored by their parents.

Four youth accompanied by Yewo Sanga’s father (right)

The four are Yebo Sanga (11) of St. Columba Primary School in Blantyre and from Mzuzu Tinna Kumwenda (17) of Masasa Community Day Secondary School), Kezzie Msukwa Jnr (9) of Wongani Primary School) and Daniel Kondowe (8) of Chibavi Primary.

National Schools Chess Coordinator Margaret Ngugama said the tournament starts Saturday, August 19 up to the 28th at Harare Rainbow Towers.

“This is a prestigious continental event and it is important to note that this is the largest group of players that has been sponsored by individual parents,” Ngugama said.

“As such I can say youth chess is gaining ground tremendously and on behalf of [Chess Association of Malawi] CHESSAM, I would like to thank the loving parents for the support and to wish the youth team all the best at the tournament,” she said.

Yebo Sanga’s father is accompanying the team while CHESSAM president Kezzie Msukwa, father to Kezzie Jnr, will also be in Harare to attend the African Chess Confederation board meeting.

Each of the parents contributed Fide registration fee of 100 euros (MK87,000), tournament registration fee of euro 70 (MK 61,000 and transport cost Mzuzu to Harare return MK60, 000 and Blantyre to Harare MK32 000.

All the board and lodging has been fully paid for at the five-star Harare Rainbow Towers.

Ngungama said there has been various youth chess activities across the country.

“In the North, we have very active chess schools like Katoto, Masasa, Chibavi, Edinburgh and St John of God. In Lilongwe, we have newly formed chess coaching class at Lilongwe Golf Club which operates like Jungle Pepper training centre in Blantyre.

“Kids from various schools are trained by licensed trainers for an hour or two on Saturdays. MTL Lodge in Mangochi started school fees sponsorship for best players and college sponsorship is coming soon for the Southern Region Chess League (SRCL).

“In addition, SRCL is working hand in hand with Malawi Schools Sports Association (MASSA) in Blantyre Urban to promote chess in a project called Chess in Blantyre Urban Schools. An action plan on how the project is going to run has been submitted to MASSA and more chess action is expected in the coming academic year 2017-18.”

She applauded all active lisenced chess trainers such as Fide Instructor (FI) Chalemba, FI Nyirenda, National Instructor (NI) Mfune, NI Mbwana, developmentmental instructor (DI) Kabuluzi to keep up the good work in traning the youths.

“Special mention goes to those who have been facilitating the development of youth chess activities — Mr Chikoko, CHESSAM vice president through MT Lodge sponsorship; Mr Chima CHESSAM general secretary who is the brains behind chess sessions at Lilongwe Golf Club; Mr Mumba for training students in various schools in the North, international Arbiter (IA) Gilton Mkumbwa for Finesse Schools Sponsorship.

“May I assure you that all your efforts will not be in vain. And all prospective sponsors are most welcome,” she said.

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