Cape Times E-dition

Chess club success should be emulated

I OFTEN despair when reading the Cape Times every day, as it seems to always be filled with nothing but stories of death, violence, cruelty, backstabbing and just plain bad news, not only in this country but from all around the world.

Overpopulation and lack of education will be South Africa's downfall, but that's another story.

What pleasure it gave me to read, on page 4 yesterday, of the Elsies River Chess Club, the newly crowned Western Cape A-Division chess champions!

It was a story of real inspiration, with three young men aged 16 all winning their games and bringing glory to their club and neighbourhood. We all know that Elsies River is an area where there are tremendous problems with gangsters shooting at each other (and often killing innocent bystanders), real poverty, depression, anxiety and general unemployment.

The chess club was established in 1978 at the Elsies River Library but only recently, due mainly to the Covid-19 lockdown, did the 20-odd active members start playing regularly and improving their game.

How fabulous that their efforts have been rewarded by their championship win, and well done to their teacher!

This is exactly the sort of club that should be started in all areas of impoverishment, where sports facilities are lacking and sporting equipment might be too expensive.

Chess only needs a few pieces of equipment, two people and a place to play – nothing expensive.

If community leaders read this, please consider starting a club in your region.

Contact the Development Officer of Elsies River Club, Eugene Steenkamp, on 082 807 3029. Better still, if anyone reading this has a chessboard and pieces to donate, please contact Mr Steenkamp on his cellphone.

This could be the start of a young person's salvation from a life of crime. What a pity this wonderful good-news story wasn't given better prominence on the front page.

LYNN HARDING | Noordhoek

METRO

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2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281646783339970

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