Chess team off to world youth tourney
Calistus Kolantsho | Wednesday September 17, 2014 12:00
The 12 youngsters, aged between six to 17, will participate in a tournament organised by the South African Chess Federation under the auspices of FIDE, from September 18 to 30.
BCF spokesperson, Keenese Katisenge said the team is accompanied by two coaches, FIDE instructor, Israel Makwati and development instructor Jeremiah Dikgang as well as caretakers, Motlhokomedi Thabano and Patricia Kosana.
Katisenge explained that Botswana is sending the first team ever to compete at this world event. She said in the past, there were no players in the under eight-age category who were ready to represent the country.
Consistent performance in the past years was used in selecting the squad, who include Marape Marape Junior, who represented Botswana at the 2013 African Youth Championships that were held in South Africa.
In the under-eight girls and open section categories is Naledi Marape from Baobab Primary School and Bofelo Moupi from Maradu Primary School. Celestinah Dambe from Tachibona Primary School and Waabo Makwati of Baratani Primary School will compete in the under ten and open section categories.
To contest in the under-12 and open section girls’ category are Onneetse Rankwane of Our Lady of the Desert Primary School and Marape Marape Junior.
BCF has selected Susan Sethebe from Goldmine Junior Secondary School and Tebogo Chilume of Mater Spei College will battle it out in the under-14 challenge.
Mbaki Sonny from Goldmine JSS will be competing in the under-16 category. A duo of Chawawa Casino (Goldmine) and Bernard Chaka (Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School) will battle it out in the under-18 category.
Meanwhile, negotiations between BCF and Botho University continues as the three year partnership of the annual senior secondary schools chess championships came to an end last weekend. The federation had signed an agreement with Botho University in 2012 at the value of P120, 000 and it came to an end with a tournament that was held at the university campus.