The Kwa-Nomzamo Douglas Matsha People’s Association, which was established in honour of the late Douglas Matsha who was a teacher at Mzingisi Primary School in Humansdorp, will host a Chess Tournament on July 10 at the Humansdorp Library.
Loyiso Matsha, the organisation’s director, is a former South African u/18 boys’ singles tennis champion for the year 1978 and joint runner-up for the June 1978 Citrus Black Sportsmen of the month in South Africa, alongside Kaiser Chiefs soccer maestro, Nelson “Teenage” Dladla.
When his father, Douglas, passed away in 1999, Matsha, who is based in Gauteng, was determined to continue his late father’s legacy.
Finally, in December 2022 he established the Kwa-Nomzamo Douglas Matsha People’s Association at the Kwa-Nomzamo Community Hall, to keep children busy while indirectly reducing the crime rate in the township of Kwa-Nomzamo, which is at an alarming rate.
“I travel home to Kwa-Nomzamo at least four times a year, when I introduce a sport or cultural activity to children in the area and train local coaches in the hope that they will continue with training when I leave,” said Matsha.
To promote chess in the region, he said that in March this year he began coaching children in a garage in Mtsila Street, Kwa-Nomzamo.
After only a few chess coaching sessions, Matsha said that seven children from the region participated in the Mayor’s Cup in Jeffreys Bay in April.
“Playing chess is non-existent in Kwa-Nomzamo. A person who might not be talented in the existing sports in the region might be talented in chess. We are therefore opening the doors for undiscovered talent,” said Matsha.
To allow the children to have a platform to explore chess, the organisation will host a fundraising chess tournament for u/13 beginners and intermediate players on July 10, from 08:00 to 14:00 at the Humansdorp Library.
The tournament arbiter will be Zolani Sibengile who was placed fourth in the trials of the Mayor’s Cup in April.
Directly after the tournament, the organisation will begin with a coaching clinic for beginner chess players from 14:00.
Matsha said that the entrance fee for the chess tournament is R50 per person and participants can buy refreshments at the tuck shop.
He said that the coaching clinic is open to children as young as eight.
“All funds raised from the chess tournament will be used to buy golf shirts with the Kwa-Nomzamo Douglas Matsha People’s Association logo,” said Matsha.
To enter the tournament, he said that participants are required to email their completed entry form to loyisomatsha@gmail.com before July 6, while the entry fee needs to be paid in the account details displayed on the form.
Entry forms will be available at the Humansdorp Library from June 30.
- For more information about the chess tournament and the chess coaching clinic, send an SMS or WhatsApp message to Loyiso Matsha on 071 381 6226.
