Gillian seeks coach, funds for Norway games
By Prudence Phiri
Thu 18 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
GILLIAN Bwalya says he needs a coach to adequately prepare him for next month’s Chess World Cup games in Norway.
Bwalya, Zambia’s sole representative at the games, said he had no money to hire a coach and the Chess Federation of Zambia had also failed to secure him one.
“It’s difficult to train without a coach. The Federation has no money to get me a coach but this has motivated me to train hard, it gives me a fighting spirit,” Bwalya said.
Bwalya said he was still scouting for money to meet his logistics in Norway after the Swedish Embassy gave him US$3,000 (about K16,500).
“I appreciate the Swedish Embassy for giving me the money. It will cater for my travel expenses but I still need logistics in Norway,” Bwalya said.
Bwalya, who is seeded 126 among the 128 players that will compete at the World Cup games, has been paired with former world champion Grand Master Vladimir Kramnik in the first round of the tournament.
Kramnik, a Russian, was the Classical World Chess champion from 2000 to 2006 and was the World Chess champion from 2006 to 2007.
Kramnik has won three gold medals and three individual medals at the Chess Olympiads.
Bwalya is among six Africans that will participate in the tournament where no African has gone beyond the first round.
The other five Africans are Amin Bassem, Ahmed Adly, Samy Shoker, Essam Gindy from Egypt and Ali Sebber of Morocco.
Bwalya qualified to the World Championships after winning the Zone 4.3 in Botswana.
Source: http://www.postzambia.com
Wow!