Chililabombwe Council Awards Land to Two Young Chess Champions
The Chililabombwe Municipal Council has announced plans to award land to two under-8 National Chess Champions, Rabson Shambuluma and Atusayi Atupele Sichali.
Both Grade 3 pupils from Chililabombwe District, Copperbelt Province, the young chess prodigies have earned recognition for their outstanding performance in national and Southern African chess tournaments.
Chililabombwe Mayor Lucky Sichone expressed immense pride in the two champions for their exceptional representation of Zambia at the regional level.
He also praised their coach, Kelvin Chumfwa, who recently triumphed in the Zone 4.5 Chess Tournament held in South Africa.
“The success of these young players is a testament to their dedication and the quality of mentorship they receive. As a Council, we are committed to nurturing such talent by providing the necessary support,” Mayor Sichone stated.
He also highlighted plans to engage the corporate sector for further sponsorship to boost the growth of chess in the district.
Town Clerk Sheila Songolo revealed that the Council has now allocated a budget for sports development, with a focus on implementing strategies to promote sports diversification across Chililabombwe.
“We are determined to create opportunities for young athletes in various sports disciplines, including chess, to ensure a well-rounded development of our youth,” Songolo said.
Meanwhile, Boniface Mumba, an Executive Member of the Chess Federation of Zambia, commended the Mayor for his proactive approach to promoting chess.
Mumba stressed the importance of sustained support to elevate Zambian chess players to international standards, drawing comparisons with countries like India, known for producing Grand Masters.
