By FRANCINA CHOMBA –
THE Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) has assembled a 10-member youth team to participate in the 2014 South Africa junior chess championship billed for September 19 to 29.
CFZ tournament director Aaron Banda announced the development in an interview yesterday, saying the outing was at the invitation of their South African counterparts.
The team comprises Under-18 players Joshua Mulauzi (Lusaka), and Isabel Mwewa of the Copperbelt, Under-16 stars Elias Musonda of Lusaka, Faith Chilambe of Copperbelt and Engelbert Malambo of Livingstone.
Others are Under-14 players in the Musonda Chola (Lusaka), and Muwale of the Copperbelt, Thabo Mhango of the Copperbelt, who will compete in the Under-12 category while the rest are Under-10 players Subilo Chileshe and Limbakeni Chishimba of Lusaka.
“The federation has picked a team comprising both male and female players to take part in the South Africa youth championship at the invitation of our counterparts there.
We will have representation in all categories except the Under-eight because the players are too young and were going to require parents to accompany them, the team will, however,  go into camp on the September 13 at Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) where they will be groomed by local coaches from various chess clubs,” Banda said.
Banda said the CFZ had so far raised half of its K43, 600 budget required to send the team to South Africa.
“We are appealed to the government to help us raise the other half or assist us with a bus to transport the team to South Africa.
The South African chess federation will cater for food and other logistics during the championship and so all we need is to pay for registration for the team to participate,” he said.