Zuma hosts annual chess day
President Jacob Zuma spoke out against alcohol and substance abuse during an address to hundreds of chess enthusiasts who gathered in his home village of Nkandla for the annual JG Zuma Foundation chess tournament on Sunday.
Zuma said life was similar to a game of chess because individuals had to make decisions about the direction they want their lives to take, which meant it was important to “make the right move” as one would in chess to achieve success.
Zuma said life was similar to a game of chess because individuals had to make decisions about the direction they want their lives to take, which meant it was important to “make the right move” as one would in chess to achieve success.
This was the seventh year the tournament was organised at the behest of the president in order to teach the youth patience and strategic thinking as well as promote recreational activities in rural areas.
Zuma, an ardent chess player, wants to see the game being rolled out to other remote communities of the province as it requires minimal infrastructure.
He said chess was the most exciting sport even though it does not rank in the same level of popularity as soccer and rugby.
Initially, only about 60 youngsters participated but the since the introduction of the annual tournament, numbers have grown tremendously with 310 people taking part this year.
“The game encourages you to think strategically as you have to combine strategy and tactics,” Zuma said.
Zuma also joined in on the fun and played against partially sighted teenager Willford Gwabeni, who travelled by taxi all the way from Pretoria to be part of the event.
“Chess is a game of the mind. You have to visualise your moves before making them so Willford was no easy opponent for the president,” chess coordinator for the JG Zuma Foundation, Sandile Xulu said.
Zuma sponsored Gwabeni and his father’s flight tickets back home sparing them a more than eight hour road trip. Xulu said the popularity of the event had spread to other provinces as this year they had the Steve Tshwete municipality form Mpumalanga joining the 11 KZN districts in the competition.
“They brought the Woza Nabangani Bakho Chess Club and for us this was very exciting because we’ve always only had KZN teams taking part but now our vision of taking the game across the country is being realised.”
Xulu also facilitates the introduction of chess to rural schools and they have already done it in 20 schools in the iLembe district. He said they were seeking funding to fulfil their mission.
“We are making progress and the numbers are evident in those coming to the tournament, for example this year for the first time we had a grade R pupil, Fanele Xulu from Nkandla, who is only five years old.”
The Amajuba district team won this year’s tournament with Mandeni and Nkandla taking second and third positions respectively.
In the open section, Wandimuzi Khanyile was crowned the champion, followed by Khetha Mngadi in second and then Davidson Kondowe.
NOKUTHULA NTULI
NOKUTHULA NTULI
SOURCE: The New Age Online
