A number of his protégés have been taking part in tournaments and they keep coming back with medals.
“It’s all about commitment. I am sacrificing all my time for these children and I don’t regret it,” he says.
Nkwane started training the learners at Iphahamiseng Primary School back in 2011.
• Read: Making moves in chess
Among the shining stars, he says that nine-year-old Andani Mboneni is bound to make a mark as the greatest chess player to come out of Duduza.
“The boy is a wonder. He even beats people much older than him.”
The sports coordinator at Iphahamiseng, Priscilla Sedibe, says that playing chess seems to have a positive effect on the learners’ academic results as well.
“I have noticed that those who play chess are also really good in maths. And they seem to be more patient and strategic, compared to those who don’t,” she explains.
Sedibe says that she is very grateful that Nkwane has put so much effort into training the learners.
Nomsa Sobende, principal of Iphahamiseng, says that she encourages learners to participate in any sport they are interested in.
• Also read: Chess team makes it to provincials
“Our main limitation is that we do not have all the facilities we need for the different sporting codes,” she says.
Sobende urges parents to continue to support their children’s dreams, even if it costs them some money.
Nkwane says that he hopes to get a sponsor, because although he coaches learners in many schools, he wishes to do much more.
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