Checkmated by resources
Just like many other sport codes in the country, chess is feeling the economic pinch, amid a lack of support from corporate Namibia.
The Namibia Chess Federation (NCF) is urgently in need of more human resource capacity so it can operate effectively in all the country's 14 regions.
However, the federation continues to struggle with a lack of financial resources that can assist it to recruit more members, NCF president Israel Shilongo said.
The federation currently only has seven executive members who have to operate throughout the country's regions.
“Considering the motive to expand the sport to all regions of the country, the lack of human resources in the respective regions has prompted the seven executive members to be all over the place - weekend in and weekend out – in order to popularise chess with the federation's limited resources.
“The fact is that in a non-paying organisation all the load is normally focused on a few committed individuals within the committee,” Shilongo said.
The issue of finances also continues to hinder progress after the federation inherited a bank balance of less than N$5 000 from its former leaders.
The federation is also struggling to secure a solid sponsor, which will enable it to host more competitions.
“The struggle to take chess to the regions continues to be an Achilles' heel. Without sponsorship a minimum of N$1 000 is needed to host a local tournament,” Shilongo said.
The recurring problem of a lack of funding and sponsorship from government and private companies is said to be the main stumbling block holding back sport development in Namibia.
It is believed that private companies have not derived enough benefits from their sponsorships and that's why they are hesitant to partner with sports codes.
The absence of the long-awaited sport development plan and the alignment between the sports directorate, the Namibia Sports Commission, the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) and sporting federations is also said to be crippling the fraternity.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
However, the federation continues to struggle with a lack of financial resources that can assist it to recruit more members, NCF president Israel Shilongo said.
The federation currently only has seven executive members who have to operate throughout the country's regions.
“Considering the motive to expand the sport to all regions of the country, the lack of human resources in the respective regions has prompted the seven executive members to be all over the place - weekend in and weekend out – in order to popularise chess with the federation's limited resources.
“The fact is that in a non-paying organisation all the load is normally focused on a few committed individuals within the committee,” Shilongo said.
The issue of finances also continues to hinder progress after the federation inherited a bank balance of less than N$5 000 from its former leaders.
The federation is also struggling to secure a solid sponsor, which will enable it to host more competitions.
“The struggle to take chess to the regions continues to be an Achilles' heel. Without sponsorship a minimum of N$1 000 is needed to host a local tournament,” Shilongo said.
The recurring problem of a lack of funding and sponsorship from government and private companies is said to be the main stumbling block holding back sport development in Namibia.
It is believed that private companies have not derived enough benefits from their sponsorships and that's why they are hesitant to partner with sports codes.
The absence of the long-awaited sport development plan and the alignment between the sports directorate, the Namibia Sports Commission, the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) and sporting federations is also said to be crippling the fraternity.
Jesse Jackson Kauraisa
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article