Sitale shuns Lopang in chess election
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday October 5, 2018 14:04
Lopang was contesting for the Africa Chess Federation (ACC) vice presidency in elections held on the sidelines of the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia on Wednesday. Sitale stepped down from contesting for the position of ACC president and instead backed Essis. The Sitale camp lost as Lewis Ncube of Zambia retained his position as ACC president. He won 23-12 against Essis. Even without the support of Sitale, Lopang was elected ACC vice president, contesting in Ncube’s camp.
BCF public relations officer, Kutlwano Tatolo said they were surprised by Sitale’s decision. “It came as a shock to us as we expected him to endorse his fellow country woman. However, Lopang’s team and support from all the 45 African states proved to be sufficient,” she said.
Tatolo said the win is for the Southern Africa Zone as both the ACC president and his vice are from the same region. She said Botswana would be a centre of African chess development. BCF president, Mothokomedi Thabano said Sitale did not advance his reasons for dropping from the race. “He only said his team decided to support the other team. Botswana had nominated Sitale for the continental position,” he said. Meanwhile, Arkady Dvorkovich is the new World Chess Federation (FIDE) president. Dvorkovich, the former Russian deputy prime minister, beat Georgios Makropoulos of Greece.
A third candidate, British chess GrandMaster Nigel Short, withdrew from the running earlier in the day and backed Dvorkovich. Thabano welcomed Dvorkovich’s victory.
“Having Dvorkovich as president is a victory for us. He is of the view that Africa has to be developed and at the helm of his objectives is to have a functional chess in schools programme across the continent, Botswana inclusive,” he said. Thabano said the new FIDE president has assured them that he would bring sponsors to Africa. “He has vast experience as both an economist and former deputy prime minister.
He was the also the chairperson of the Russia World Cup Local Organising Committee (LOC) ” Thabano said.
“Botswana has always enjoyed good relationships with Russia. Just recently, Nicolay Chadaev was accommodated by the Russian Embassy when he came to train the women’s team.” Botswana National Sport Commission chairperson, Solly Reikeletseng said any Motswana who makes it on the international stage, scores a victory for the country.