POLOKWANE – Most schools, both primary schools and high schools incorporate chess as an extra-curricular activity. Review spoke to some of the chess players from Pietersburg English Media Primary School (Pemps) to find out what they think the this sport is beneficial to their school and personal life.
Nikiwe Nkhanyani is in gr 6 and says she started playing chess when she was only 4 years old. “My father taught me how to play chess and I have been playing ever and practicing ever since/ I am now part of the Chess team here at my school and I learn how to be patient. Chess teaches good manners and how to focus as a player you need to focus so that you can take a calculated risk. My favourite pieces is the rook and the queen, because just like those small pieces nobody expects a small piece to win a chess game and be so great, I consider myself a queen and know and believe that I can conquer any challenge I face I life,” she explained.
Noleen Chabane also a gr 6 pupil said,” I started playing chess when I was ten year old, my teacher always encourages us to focus and keep practicing so that we can become masters at this game one day. My parents said that because I never liked to go outside to play with other children they introduced me to chess which I enjoyed as time went by. Chess helps with my maths skills therefore improving on my academic results. I love the queen because she is the most important piece of any chess game and can move anywhere,” she said.
Bryan Mametja, gr 7, “I was 9 years old when I started playing chess, my chess teacher taught me the basic skills of playing chess. Chess is all about planning ahead of my opponent so that when they strike I know which piece to play to stay active in the game,” he said.
Mulanga Rampfumedzi is the youngest player in the chess team and the best player the team has. “I started playing chess when I was in grade 2. My father and brother taught me how to play. Chess is all about thinking so you need to focus in order to make a good decision in terms of the pieces that you want to move. I love the queen and the pawn because the pawn is the one that gets many lives, meaning during a chess game you get a lot of pawn pieces to use,” he explained.
