With just three school teams to play, Constantia Kloof primary school’s chess team is just a shoe-in to make the Gauteng School Games in Pretoria in August.
The school has been competing in the D12 matches which include teams from Roodepoort, Meadowlands and Dobsonville.
Since participating in the D12 tournament five years ago, the school has come in second position four times before moving on to the provincial stage where they’ve had varied results.
The team owes their success to head coach Mona Coombes who took on the job seven years ago, developing a core group of players who have now become the seniors of the team.
“My senior players started from grade one so I have watched them grow and become serious competitors in chess. All I have done is teach them the basics and they have gone one from there. I respect each of them because some even forfeited a day from their prefect camp when it clashed with one of their games,” she said.
With Pretoria just around the corner, the team has brought in Zodwa Sihlangu to assist the players to be in top condition moving forward.
The school will be relying on captain fantastic Jaiden Renecase. The 12-year-old will have to be in top form to help his team through.
“Playing chess relaxes me, it is a good mental sport and it challenges me everyday. My parents introduced me to chess because I was a think tank,” he said.
The team consists of six players and one reserve player.
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