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Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
SEVEN Matabeleland North districts assemble at Tsholotsho High School this morning for a two-day National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) inter-district chess tournament.

Tsholotsho, Umguza, Nkayi, Bubi, Lupane, Hwange and Binga districts will do battle in seven age groups, Under-13, Under-14, Under-15, Under-16, Under-17, Under-18 and Under-20s.

Nash Matabeleland North head-in-charge of chess Cheteni Tirisoni said the competition would be used to select a 28-member provincial team for the National Chess Championships to be held at Marondera High School from April 7-9.

“This is a provincial team selection competition where we will select the best two players in each category to  represent us in the nationals to be held next month.

“This means each age group will produce a team of four players made up of two boys and two girls,” said Tirisoni.

He said lack of interest by students in the game has been the cause of the province’s poor performances at national events.

“We are hoping to improve on our performance as a province because last year we came out last.

“The challenge has been mainly a lack of interest from our students because we are from a rural set up which makes it difficult to attract players in the sport.

“As a way of countering that, we have been holding workshops for our teachers so that we start at grassroots level.

“Once we start by training teachers, we will know that we now have a base enabling  us to cast our net wider in different schools. Those teachers are the ones who will go to their respective schools to promote chess.

“We will continue having these workshops throughout the year and later on we will include students,” Tirisoni said.

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