YOUNG players have stormed Chess scene in the Southern Province, particularly Livingstone as they are set to challenge the world of chess.
In what is probably one of their steps toward realising their dreams of becoming young superstars in the big game of chess, these young stars are geared to rise to the top.
However, their journey to stardom is not by accident but it lies in Ginnethon Shandele, a teacher at St. Raphaels Secondary in Livingstone, who is a driving force that prepares them for every challenge.
Shandele is one of the many chess coaches in the country that are trying their best to see the sport reach greater heights.
Shandele is the hand behind the successes that Engelbert Malambo, the king of chess in the Southern region and an undisputable champion has attained.
Malambo is famously known for his confident and unpredictable style of play, embodying the spirit of exceptional thinking during matches, thanks to the efforts of Shandele.
While the sport is mainly concentrated in Lusaka and on the Copperbelt, Southern Province is slowly getting a fair share of representation in the national teams with the upshot of budding
talent.
In the world today, it is certainly possible to improve one’s chess skills without a coach just by simply making use available tools such as books, computer chess games and videos.
But there are some qualities about one’s unique game that need to be specifically identified and improved through an individually tailored study with a coach.
Though his chess playing career has not been illustrious like others, Shandele, who started playing chess at the age of 15 in 2002, was part
of the University of Zambia (UNZA) team that won the Chess Federation of Zambia (CFZ) Zone four league championship in 2007.
A year later, he was voted the most improved player at UNZA before venturing into coaching.
In 2012, Shandele started grooming youngsters at St Raphael Secondary School in Livingstone.
“I started my campaign in 2012 with the grade 8 intake because my focus is mainly on the younger players. In the past two years I have produced a good number of players who are
all still at secondary school, the oldest being in grade 10 now,” he says.
Shandele now runs GC Chess Academy in Livingstone that has seen a number of youngsters enroll.
The most notable of Shandele’s students are Malambo, Wakung’uma Nyambe, Chiteu Kasongo, and Maximillian Tuombe.
The quartet propelled Southern Province to win a gold medal during the 2013 Inter-provincial under-13 chess championship that was held in Ndola.

• Wakung’uma Nyambe (centre) and GC Academy teammates pose with a trophy after winning the2014 Southern Province championship. (inset is Shandele)

The four players were also part of the St. Raphaels School team won the provincial championship back to back in 2013 and 2014.
“It’s actually funny how I started coaching. I love chess but I did not give it enough time, I could just play but never studied any books,” he says, “after my graduation, I still had the passion to play chess but couldn’t find time from work to play competitive games.”
“It is for the love of the sport that I started coaching pupils from my School and I am pondering to start playing competitive chess again, I now read a lot of books because of my student Engelbert, who keeps on improving every day.”
“Chess and work will always be a challenge to balance because both require total commitment. However, with proper time management we always manage,” Shandele said.
There seems to be a general thought that excellent chess players are naturally smart and in order to be smart and relevant in the sport,
Shandele has turned to reading and studying various techniques in the sport.
If one was to ask how the likes of Amon Simutowe, Gillian Bwalya and Kelvin Chumfwa among others have progressed in the sport, the definite answer would be hard work. Hard work is the biggest component of skill development in chess.
One of Shandele’s students, Malambo, who has claimed the Southern Province chess championship for three consecutive years since 2012, will be playing in the Africa Youth Chess Championship to be held in Tunisia this December.
The youngster is also part of the Zambian team travelling to Durban for world youth chess championship this month end.
“I am happy that my students are making positive strides in the sport with Engelbert as the most outstanding of all players,” he says.
Shandele has his sights set on making contributions to the development of chess in a unique way of running a chess Academy. Though in its infancy, GC Academy has proved that it can be an aorta of future stars that will represent the country at various levels. Send your contributions to moseschimfwembe@gmail.com