Sandile Mfundisi has accumulated more that 18 chess titles and is reaching for higher heights with his cognitive talent.
Not only has he attained these achievements but he imparts his extensive knowledge on others through his private chess coaching as well as motivational speaking that the does – and this at the tender age of 22.
His most recent achievement was his win in a chess tournament held at the University of Pretoria at the Mamelodi Campus this past weekend.
Mfundisi explains that “Being the child of a single parent who is a general worker in the local municipality has always been a challenge as the social interests I have been inclined to have always been elusive to peoples of limited means.”
He continues to say when he gives motivational speeches “Your circumstances are not what you are, they are what you were. By consciously taking the decision to rise above our limitations we destroy the myths that hinder us from realizing our potential to be all we aspire to be.”
According to Mfundisi, “The skills one acquires through playing chess include decisiveness, critical thinking, remaining calm during pressing situations, and planning far ahead in order to reach one’s goals.”
He likens the skills one uses on the chess board to the global political and economic stage. He states these skills are what is needed in the South African youth to ensure that this great country can become even greater and compete with international powerhouses such as China, the United States and Britain.
Mfundisi confidently states “In the unlikely event that my chess pupils do not become strong enough to smash the competition, the above skills are nevertheless developed within them to… equip them with fundamental principles of success in all academic, sport, and life situations.”
