Russian flavour to inspire Botswana chess again
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Friday July 18, 2014 11:45
Mmegi Sport: When did you become a Grand Master?
Glek: I started concentrating on chess in 1989 and became a Grand Master in 1990. Over the years, I have coached many talented young players and I am a regular writer on chess.
Mmegi Sport: When did you start relations with BCF?
Glek: I started working with BCF three years ago when I was engaged to coach the national teams, which were preparing for the All-Africa Games and the Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. Both the women and men’s teams did well and the results were better than other African countries. Two Batswana players were awarded FIDE titles. That was an indication that the players competed well.
Mmegi Sport: How are the preparations going for the upcoming Olympiad and what is your target?
Glek: At the moment, it is difficult to predict the medal target. As you might be aware, chess depends on ratings and that is when you can predict how a player will perform.
More than 100 countries attend the Olympiad and we expect competition to be stiff. In most instances, African countries find it difficult to compete against developed countries such as Russia and United States.
The Botswana players have the potential of getting individual medals. They are skilled and have ability to withstand pressure. Some of them might get FIDE titles.
Mmegi Sport: What do you think can be done to develop chess in Botswana and Africa?
Glek: There is a lot that needs to be done to develop the sport in Africa. FIDE held a seminar in Tunisia to encourage the introduction of chess at primary schools. The plan is for such seminars to be held in other countries. FIDE also distributes chess equipment around the continent. The disadvantage is that Africa is broad and traveling and organising tournaments is expensive.
Botswana should introduce children to the sport at a young age and that can only happen if professional coaches are available. In Russia, there are people who go to universities to learn how to teach chess.
Mmegi Sport: What is your message to Batswana?
Glek: I have worked with some of the players in the team and I know their strengths. The only thing they should do at the competition is to focus. Then the rest will follow.
The Botswana squad: (Men) Phemelo Khetho, Ignatius Njobvu, Barileng Gaealafshwe, Thato Olebile, Moakofhi Notha
Women: Boikhutso Modongo, Tshepiso Lopang
About Glek: Igor Vladimirovich Glek was born in Moscow, Russia in 1961 but currently resides in Germany. He has won over 100 international competitions, including the 1990 World Open in Philadelphia, US; the 1998 Vienna Open; the 1999 Utrecht Open and the 2002 Zwolle Open (jointly with Mikhail Gurevich and others). At the peak of his playing strength in 1996, Glek was ranked number 12 in the world with an Elo rating of 2670.
(Additional reporting by Wikipedia).