Zambia Ready For Olympiads

Chess Federation of Zambia(CFZ) Tournaments Director Aaron Banda says Zambia is ready for the Chess Olympiad tournament slated for Georgia next year.

And Banda has emphasised the need for the game of chess to be compulsory in schools, if the country is to produce many Grand Masters.

Speaking in an interview, Banda said Zambia is ready for the prestigious chess showpiece.

He said the aim is to win the tournament so as to improve the grades on international record.

Egypt has been a thorn in the fresh of Zambia but Banda says the country will break the jinx.

Egypt tops as African’s best team while Zambia trails in second position.

“When we go to such a tournament, it is always  our desire to come top of Egypt because they have always come number one from 2005,” he said.

He said Zambia has improved and ready to win the tournament considering the quality of chess players in place.

“Hopefully, next year will win the tournament because of the crop of players we have. As you maybe aware, we have a number of international masters. Our team is now stable so we will win the tournament next year,” Banda vowed.

He said Zambia is doing well in chess despite the country not having the sport in schools as a compulsory programme

Banda said it is his prayer that the country will infuse chess in the school programme.

He said the sport is important to learners as it improves the  Intelligence Quotient(IQ).