Chess feud alarms BNSC
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday July 24, 2014 11:37
A campaign by legendary Russian, Garry Kasparov who is out to oust countryman Kirsan Ilyumzhinov from the helm of world chess governing body - FIDE - has caused enough divisions in the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) to attract the attention of BNSC. The former world number one was in Botswana recently to drum up support ahead of what is expected to be a tight contest.
While some BCF officials prefer Kasparov, the majority seems to be sympathetic to his multi-millionaire rival.
Although BCF president, Tshenolo Maruatona said the issue has been ironed out, the BNSC has other ideas. 'I can confirm that there is an issue that we have to deal with. We don't want to get involved in elections especially those of our national associations and international bodies. It is not really our issue. But if these elections divide our associations, we condemn such developments as it eventually affects the athletes,' BNSC chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng has said.
But Maruatona insists the problem has been dealt with and their focus now is on sending a strong team to this year's Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.
'The issue has been dealt with. It is dusted, we are now concentrating on the team. It was an issue (back) then, but it has been resolved,' he said.
Maruatona refused to reveal the federation's preferred candidate. 'We don't want to derail the team's preparations. We are focusing on preparing a team and possibly present the team to the media tomorrow (today),' he said.
Reports say Kasparov's attempts to meet the BCF committee and present his campaign met with resistance. He eventually managed to campaign with promises to assist the association financially.His fierce rival, Ilyumzhinov has not been impressed with the turn of events and threatened to deal with 'corruption' which may arise during the campaign. In a strongly worded letter to associations, Ilyumzhinov said the campaign should remain clean, suggesting money might exchange hands in a bid to get votes.
The bid for leadership of FIDE has a political angle because Kasparov is a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a close ally Ilyumzhinov. The FIDE elections will be held in August.