Logistical setbacks shadow Zone 8’s national tourney debut

Namibia Chess Federation’s (NCF) Zone 8 team, representing the Kavango East and West regions, encountered logistical challenges ahead of their first appearance at a recent national chess tournament.Despite the obstacles, the team, established in 2023, managed to compete at the Bank Windhoek national junior open chess championship held at Windhoek Gymnasium earlier this month.Featuring a turnout of 430 junior players, the championships saw Zone 8, playing under the Rundu Chess Community, field six debutant players from the far-north Zone 8.They were Elias Manuel, Andreas Kameya and George Hamupembe (all under-16 open), Rene Gariseb and Emma Lucian (both U18 girls’ section) and Jacob Siwoko (U20 open).The debut team was accompanied by Rundu Chess Community president Petrus Kawende and coach Tjalumuna Elias.Never materialisedKawende approached Sport Wrap with grievances about the Zone 8 team’s transport challenges. Despite the NCF securing approval from the sports ministry, through the Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU), the arrangements for government transport with the Zambezi region never materialised.“The NCF told me that the submission was approved and that we were to travel with the Zone 9 team of Zambezi Region. However, when I called Zambezi NSSU coordinator Alphar Matiti asking when they would come to pick us up for the Windhoek junior open, he did not know anything about this arrangement,” he said.Kawende then contacted the NCF to ask which individual in Zambezi had agreed to take them along. “I was told it’s an internal matter and that the NCF could not disclose it to me. All they could say was that Zambezi would not be able to provide us with transportation in time for the Windhoek competition, so the NCF decided to foot some of the funds for our transportation,” he explained.Attempts to get the NCF to comment on the matter proved futile.‘Not a case of anyone being denied transport’When contacted, the ministry’s sports officer, Erastus Semeno, confirmed that the transportation submission had been approved and that the Zone 8 team was set to travel with the Zambezi team.“[Kawende] called me regarding their transportation. When I asked if he knew who was handling it from the Zambezi region, he said he did, and I told him to take it up with them. That was our final conversation. “If he had called me back to say he was having trouble locating the individual handling the matter in Zambezi, I would have taken it up and tried to assist,” Semeno told Sport Wrap last week.Sport Wrap also reached out to NSSU administrator Allan Kake, who confirmed that the transportation submission had been approved.“I handle those submissions directly, but transportation remains a significant challenge. Some regions have access to government transport in their garages, making arrangements easier while others, especially [Kavango East and West], have always struggled with transport. “It wasn’t a case of anyone being denied transport – it’s just a persistent issue in some regions,” he explained.SupportersKawende said their first participation was made possible through contributions from the chess federation and good samaritans who helped cover transportation fees.“I would like to thank the NCF, Chimora Junior and Siwoko Zephania for their generosity. We also received assistance from schools, including Jafet Haiyambo, Sarusungu Combined School and Ella du Plessis Secondary School, which provided us with free accommodation in Windhoek,” he said.Although their players did not qualify for the junior closed chess championship in Swakopmund in May, which will feature only the top eight per category, Kawende said they had a great experience.“A great level of anxiety may have contributed to some losses in games the players should have won. I believe we will perform better next time we come to Windhoek. We also call on sponsorship assistance from various entities, as we have a yearly plan that includes a chess league and monthly chess tournaments,” Kawende said.– mariud@nsh.com.na

Logistical setbacks shadow Zone 8’s national tourney debut

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Republikein 2026-05-05

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Logistical setbacks shadow Zone 8’s national tourney debut

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