CHESS FEDERATION EQUIPS TEACHERS One of Botswana highly rated FIDE instructors, Israel Makwati, says chess is one of the sports codes that has contributed to the delivery of the President’s 4 Ds. Speaking at the first training workshop for Debswana Re Ba Bona Ha at Yarona Country Lodge at the weekend, Makwati said chess had promoted discipline, development and dignity, as well as democracy in its players. On other issues, Makwati said lack of training skills by most instructors contributed to learners not getting the game of chess in a proper way. He said though chess was a growing sport code in the country, it was hampered by some of these factors in order to grow to the expected standard. “The reason why Chess has not been producing more champions is that we lack proper training programmes and skills from the coaches,” he added. Makwati said this is the reason why one of the main objections of the workshop was to try and ensure trainers the proper way of training the trainers/students the way chess is played. He also lectured on the academic benefits of chess that includes building the child’s memory in order to help them plan better and focus on the game of chess and that chess relates to subjects such as mathematics and science. For his part, BCF national instructor Vincent Masole presented on the new FIDE laws of Chess which are currently being implemented. One of the rules/laws is that a cellphone is not allowed to be in a play hall because it will disturb the tournament. BCF Public Relations Director, Keenese Katisenge said the urgent need to capacitate trainers was to further advance the growth and effectiveness of the chess programmes as well as to ensure smooth execution of the activity plan for improved results. She said the workshop was also meant to initiate Debswana- Re-ba-bon-aha Satellites which will see the programme extending to other areas around the country and also to develop Re-ba-bona-ha fixtures that will see the north and south partaking in exchange competitive programmes. This initiative is key as an overlay for the smooth enrolment of the 2014 calendar for Debswana Re-ba-bona-ha. Twenty (20) prospective trainers from all the 10 regions of the country were invited with individual resource persons well versed in the game of chess and its administration teaching them. The Federation has two Debswana- Re-ba-bona-ha Centres which are in Francistown and Gaborone. The Francistown Centre will be launched officially in August this year. The first Debswana-Re Ba Bona Ha Chess centre was launched at Diphetogo Primary School in Gaborone West in 2012 when chess joined the programme, which is sponsored by Debswana Diamond Company and the Botswana National Sports Council. The centre now boasts of 50 children aged between 5 and 13 years who are assembled during the week to train and play chess. (BOPA)
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 16:39:05 +0000
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