17 Aug 2016

The national chess team’s preparations for the Olympiad have been dealt a blow following cancellation of a high profile international friendly tournament with Zambia.

The tournament, which was expected to give the team serious work-out ahead of the Olympiad, was supposed to have been held from August 16-18 in Mogoditshane.
However, the Zambian team failed to arrive in Botswana forcing abandonment of the tournament at the eleventh hour.
The public relations director of Botswana Chess Federation (BCF), Keenese Katisenge stated that post general elections unrest in Zambia stopped the team from travelling to Botswana.  “The federation is trying to arrange another friendly tournament before the team leaves for the Olympiad,” Katisenge said on August 16.
She further said the team would participate at the BOTASH International Open Championships in Sowa this weekend, which she said would give the team further practice.
The team includes five male players being Moakofi Notha,  Mosenya Ndawana, Thuso Mosutlha, Otsile Mapini and Keletshabile Monnaatsheko, and five female players being Boikhutso Modongo, Onkemetse Francis, Thapelo Francis, Mabedi Mbo, and Khumo Mooketsi. They will leave on August 31 for Baku, Azerbaijan where this year’s Olympiad will be held. ENDS