Botswana Chess still has a long way to go

Botswana Chess still has a long way to go
by Botlhale Koothupile
23-08-2010

The Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) still has a long way to go if it is to see the country being a powerhouse in the international arena.

Despite having made tremendous strides to improve the sport locally, International Arbiter Werner Stubenvoll says chess in the country is still in its infancy.

Stubenvoll, who was in the country to facilitate an Arbiters’ Training Seminar, however, believes that should chess be accorded enough resources, the country would make it among the best in the international arena.

The vastly experienced arbiter says for the country to progress, it will have to work a lot at grassroots development.

Stubenvoll, who is also a board member of the European Chess Federation (ECF) as well as the Technical Director of the Austrian Chess Federation (ACF), says he will push for more relationships between the ECF and BCF as well as the African Chess Federation. He says a lot needs to be done to bridge the great disparity between chess development in Africa and Europe.

Stubenvoll says Europe has a structured development system and kids are professionally introduced to chess when they are between the ages of four and five.

Stubenvoll believes it will be of great value to have chess introduced in schools, not only as a sport but to help grow children’s analytical and concentration skills.

“This should be done just to develop kids’ capabilities without imposing on them whether or not to continue with the sport,” he told Standard Sport.

The 66-year-old Austrian, who took time off his busy training schedule for an interview, told Standard Sport that he was very impressed by the current chess development in Botswana.

Here is the full article.