15 May 2013

As Botswana Chess Federation goes for committee elections at this weekend’s annual general meeting, a tough battle is on the cards for the federation’s leadership.

Vice president Tshenolo Maruatona and Cinky Boikanyo, who is one of the male chess players, are vying for the position of BCF president.

The federation’s current president, Tshepo Sitale has already announced his intention to retire from any leadership positions at Saturday’s elections scheduled for Mokala Lodge in Jwaneng.

The industrious Sitale is leaving the national chess body after five years at the helm. He first came in as interim president in 2008 after a motion of no confidence was passed on then leader Boitumelo Keenyatse’s  committee.

Sitale went on to win two consecutive elections in 2009 and 2011, but said last month that family and work commitments were preventing him from standing for a new term in office.

The nominations for the posts released by BCF this week indicated that Maruatona and Boikanyo will be joined in competition for the top post by Major Reuben Makgatlo, making this the mostly eagerly contested elections in BCF history.  While the contributions of the trio to chess are probably not known, they have contributed to development of the sport in varying ways.

Maruatona has been the vice president of BCF for the past five years. He was brought, together with Sitale, to bring stability to the federation. Before then, he was a chess player and is the founding president of Kings Chess Club.

His notable assignment in recent years was leading the Botswana Chess Team to their historic performance at the Chess Olympiad in  Turkey last year. He was also one of the organisers for the first Botswana Chess Federation Awards and 30th anniversary celebrations last year.

He also organised the recent Africa Chess Zone 4.3 Championships. Together with Sitale, he  was also instrumental in developing the federation’s logo and website.

Maruatona promised the chess fraternity to facilitate registration of all teams with the Registrar of Societies and to recognise teams as building grounds for talent if he is elected.

The 33-year-old sales manager at Puma Energy also says that under his reign, the league committee will be established and that he will negotiate sponsorship for the league. Maruatona has also promised to make sure that sub-structures are established in schools, clubs, league sponsors and finance committees.

Boikanyo, who has a wealth of experience after playing chess at the top level for around 10 years since bursting into the scene as a 17-year old student, said he will accelerate training and issuance of chess licenses to teachers if given a chance to lead the federation.

He said about 70 per cent of chess players are students therefore it is important to train chess coaches at school level.  He also pledged to train and license all willing top players with FIDE titles, and will encourage them to run chess academies and assist with coaching skills.

The 36-year-old electrical engineer will also encourage and help affiliated chess clubs to start chess schools of excellence at club level that will feed national teams.

On the other hand, Major Makgatlo’s top priority is to improve capacity building in the federation by establishing an office so that all things come to play. He said there is no way that chess can grow professionally without an office, staff and equipment adding that it will also be difficult to implement chess activities without office accommodation.

The former BCF tournament director has also pledged to improve and establish rapport with presidents of other sports code to lobby for support to the Botswana National Sports Council on sports code budgetary allocation issues.

A passionate chess player, Major Makgatlo started his career at Naledi Senior Secondary school in the early ‘80s. He played for SSKB Chess Club before being elected chairman of all BDF chess clubs across the country.  At one point, he was a nominee to one of Africa’s chess tournament which was held in Uganda and later attended the Chess Olympiad as a team leader for the ladies’ team.

He has been instrumental in the past years as his company, Chess Corner, sponsored chess in primary schools for three consecutive years. Furthermore, Major Makgatlo has been the advisor to the current out-going committee which gives him credit in the chess circles.

The post of secretary general will be contested for by Leslie Olesitse, Alex Mpuisang and Samuel Motlhala. ENDS