Media hailed for chess development

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday March 12, 2010 00:00

Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) president, Tshepo Sitale said it was the media coverage, which has attracted sponsors such as Metropolitan to chess. He said the time of complaining about minority codes not getting media coverage is history. 'Our language concerning the media has changed these days. We do not take your support lightly. I thank you from the bottom of my heart,' Sitale said.  He said the fact that Metropolitan has sponsored chess for four years is testimony that the BCF is doing something right.

Africa Chess Union (ACU) president, Dabilani Buthali said people are taking note of chess because of the coverage it receives from the media. He recalled that in 1984, the editor of a top Botswana newspaper asked what chess is when he told him that he wants to start writing a column about the game. 'He told me to leave the column I had written and my photo just in case there was a space but just as I expected, the piece was never published,' he explained.

He acknowledges that there have been a lot of changes since then and chess is now able to compete for sponsorship with other sports codes and win companies' admiration.

He said Metropolitan has continued to sponsor chess even during the global economic recession as the two parties derive maximum benefit from the partnership. Buthali warned BCF administrators to put their house in order because the league has been revived. He advised BCF to put solid administration structures in place. 'If you don't you are bound to fail,' the former BCF president said.

Metropolitan retail and marketing manager, Tebogo Toteng said the media's support to chess has been tremendous over the years. He said they continue to sponsor chess because BCF has demonstrated commitment to its objectives.

'They have indeed demonstrated that they are a worthy partner with a clear goal path,' he said.   Metropolitan has availed P60,000 to sponsor this year's event, an increase of P20,000.

The preliminary stages have been concluded and players will meet at Thapama Lodge in Francistown for the semi-finals this weekend. The top 10 women and men will make it to the finals to be held over the Easter holidays.