The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
A high-powered delegation led by International Chess Federation (FIDE) director for chess development Nigel Short is expected in the country today for a two-week visit.
Short will be accompanied by FIDE chess in education chairperson Jerry Nash and commission member Anzel Solomons to get a firsthand appreciation of the Zimbabwe Chess Federation (ZCF)’s schools chess programme, which was rolled out at the beginning of the year.
“The FIDE chess in education commission led by Nigel Short together with its chairperson Jerry Nash and commission member Anzel will be in the country on Sunday (today) for a two-week visit to get a firsthand appreciation of our chess programme,” said ZCF president Mucha Mkanganwi.
“We are very excited to be hosts of the international chess mother body delegation, as it shows that the federation appreciates what we are doing in our quest to develop the sport.”
The chess in schools programme was spearheaded by ZCF, which partnered with Crystal Candy to form the schools chess league.
“What we have realised is that in Zimbabwe we have had grandmasters coming up late, while in other countries grandmasters are unearthed in their teens.
“Hence we rolled out the schools chess programme as we seek to have our own young grandmasters,” added the ZCF president.
Since the programme commenced at the beginning the year, he added, they had received massive support from schools.
“Last month, we held the Crystal Candy schools’ chess tournament and there was massive response than we anticipated, and this shows that there is hunger and desire of kids who want to be part of chess,” said Mkanganwi.
As part of the visit, the FIDE delegation is set to donate chess accessories to the local federation, while training for chess coaches is also on the cards.
“FIDE has promised to support us through chess accessories for the programme and also Jerry Nash, one of the best trainers of the sport, will train 75 coaches during their visit.
“Short, together with Anzel, are set to play local chess enthusiasts on Tuesday as part of a fundraising for the schools chess programme.
“We have organised chess matches between locals and the grandmasters as part of fundraising. I am happy to say that Shingi Mutsa has already paid for ten underprivileged kids to face the grandmasters,” said Mkanganwi.
The trio is also expected to travel to Victoria Falls, where they will visit some rural schools in the resort town.
