Great achievement

MELIKAYA NONYUKELA, a member of the United National Transport Union (Untu), who represented South Africa in the World Draughts Championship in the United States, made us proud by ending in third place at the end of the tournament.

With this excellent achievement, Nonyukela qualified to participate in the next World Draughts Championships in 2019.

Nonyukela says he would have loved to have won, but he knew it was his first time participating on an international level.

However, he is very proud of his achievement.

“I feel very good to read my name now as one of the top three,” he says.

Nonyukela, 43, a member of the transport union, is a shore crane operator at Transnet’s Port of Ngqura, 20km north-east of Port Elizabeth.

Draughts or checkers is a strategy board game for two players, which involves diagonal moves of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces.

His uncle and grandfather taught him how to play draughts when he was a little boy, growing up in the small town of Peddie in the Eastern Cape.

“Untu supported Melikaya throughout the championship and is very proud of him.

“We know that he will bring the trophy back to South Africa in 2019,” says Steve Harris, general secretary of Untu. Sonja Carstens Untu Media and Liaison Officer