Malawi to host schools chess trainers seminar
Malawi will host a schools chess trainers seminar which Irish instructor Kevin O’Connell will conduct for tutors from countries within the southern Africa region in Lilongwe from November 16-18.
The objectives of the seminar, to be organised under the auspices of the African Chess Union, Fide Trainers Commission and Chess in Schools Commission, are to educate and certify chess trainers and teachers so that they can develop the mental sport from the grass roots by training children in primary and secondary schools.
Apart from helping to uplift chess standards in schools, the event will also be a great opportunity for the Chess Association of Malawi (Chessam) president Kezzie Msukwa to be a step closer to obtaining a permanent International Events Organiser licence.
After passing the examinations in Turkey recently, Msukwa is supposed to organise three international chess events to be certified and the seminar will be his second after the 2007 African Junior Chess Championships in Lilongwe.
According to Chessam publicist Gilton Mkumbwa, eight local chess trainers, namely Joseph Chalemba, Makhosi Nyirenda, Leonard M’bwana, Petros Mfune, Chimwemwe Lombani, Moses Mphande, Kissinger Kabuluzi and Margaret Mgugama, will be sponsored by Chessam during the seminar.
“We are also expecting three participants from the Malawi Schools Sports Association (Massa) to take part in the training.
“However, any other individual wishing to participate in the training will be required to pay K15 000 (about $45) by November 9,†said Mkumbwa.
Currently, Malawi has Chessam treasurer Paul Nyirenda as the only chess development instructor recognised by Fide. He attained the title in Russia in 2010.
