Frustrated Sabure shuns chess call-ups
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday January 24, 2020 14:16
Her frustration saw her quit the national team in 2015, and Sabure said she does not get the recognition she deserves.
“I am sabotaged, that is why I decided to focus on playing outside the country. I have decided to leave the country for the next four years,” she said. Sabure said as a FIDE instructor she has been offered a four-year contract to coach in a high school in the Caribbean Islands.
Sabure was speaking after being asked if she would be competing in the Aireffeciency year opening chess championship scheduled for this weekend at Legae Academy.
Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president, Mothokomedi Thabano said Sabure is one of the most decorated players in the country and there is no way they could sabotage her. He said the player competed in various tournaments last year. “Look, it seems like something happened sometime back and she is still holding on to those grudges. As the current committee, we are always ready to work with her. It is unfortunate that when we invite her for national team selections she does not turn up,” he said.
Thabano said maybe it is an issue of her location because she expects to be provided with bus fare when she travels to Gaborone from Maun.
“All players cater for themselves when they compete in individual tournaments. The federation only takes care of them when they are in the national team,” he said. Thabano said in 2018, Sabure was invited for national team selection and she did not show up. He said Sabure unofficially informed him about her offer abroad.
Meanwhile, the Aireffeciency starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday. BCF spokesperson, Kutlwano Tatolo said the tournament sponsorship has increased from P20,000 to P25,000.
“We expect the usual players to battle it out. International Master Providence Oatlhotse and Woman Candidate Master Refilwe Gabatshwane are the defending champions,” she said.
Some of the players who are expected to give the defending champions a run for their money are FIDE Master, Phemelo Kheto, Woman International Master Onkemetse Francis and WIM Kgalalelo Botlhole.
Francis and Botlhole have won Aireffeciency and they know what it takes to start the year on a high note.
The winner of the Open Section walks away with P3,000, the first runner-up pockets P2,000 and P1,000 goes to the third placed player. In the women’s section the winner receives P2,000, with P1,000 reserved for the silver medallist. The player who finishes third gets P700.