Drama as players boycott chess selection
The selection of the national chess team was mired in controversy when senior players boycotted the first day of the three-day screening tournament. The players are not happy with the criteria used by the Botswana Chess Federation (BCF) executive committee to pick participants for the selection tournament.
Mmegi Sport visited the National Stadium, the venue of the tournament and the majority of the senior players were absent.
The concerned players have written to the BCF executive and the matter has been escalated to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC).
According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, BCF altered the selection criterion after the first round without consulting the players.
“Some players wrote to the BCF complaining that other players have been added to the final selection after the first round was completed. They wrote back to the players admitting that they did not follow the agreed criterion, however, they stand by their decision.
This week, the players wrote to the BNSC requesting them to intervene because the executive contravened what was agreed by the clubs,” a source said. Four players have submitted an official complaint with the BCF.
The source said players had no choice but to approach the BNSC because they had exhausted all the channels within the BCF. It is said despite the protest, players still have fear that they might be replaced, for being absent.
BCF secretary-general, Mokwadi Tingwane told Mmegi Sport that they expected the senior players to be present.
He said they received a letter from the concerned players last week complaining that BCF is interfering with the selection criterion due to the inclusion of elite scholar, Besa Masaiti.
“We had a meeting with them, gave them a response and apologised where there was a need. There was a lack of communication. We thought we had resolved the matter but they escalated it to the BNSC. We are meeting with the BNSC tomorrow,” he said yesterday.
Tingwane said the situation is likely to affect the entire tournament.
He said there are 11 players including Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Masaiti who flew in from Texas, US.
“We took a resolution to include Masaiti in the team because she is in Texas studying but at the same time doing sport. From the finals we want top five players to make the Olympiad team,” he said.
Tingwane also added that as BCF they have the right to amend the selection criteria.