Winning hearts with chess
Winning hearts with chess

Winning hearts with chess

A former Brave Warriors goalkeeper is making strides in chess by coaching disadvantaged youth in the Katutura community.
Limba Mupetami
After becoming Namibia's first deaf professional footballer, Athiel Mbaha has once again embarked on another mission of blazing the trail for the deaf community through his participation in the Herero Mall Chess Club in Windhoek.

He not only lends a helping hand to young players but plays the game as well and recently won the 2017 Blitz Championship in Windhoek.

The Okakarara-born Mbaha played for African Stars Football club upon completing high school in 1998. He says he hanged up his boots because of constant infighting in football and now wants to focus on winning chess tournaments and overcoming his challenges by means of the chessboard.

He became interested in the game after seeing two boys playing in his street in 2009. “I didn't understand the rules at first but I read a lot about the game online. A friend of mine also showed me some tactics. Chess is about brain power and I want use my brain to win games.”

He says he earned recognition across the country for his goalkeeping abilities but people should learn to appreciate his mind as well.

The club needs more chessboards and is looking for donors because they want to attract more players.

“Though he was only introduced to the game late in life, Mbaha quickly developed an aptitude for the game,” says Otto Nakapunda, president of the Namibia Chess Federation. Mbaha became a member of the NCF about five years ago.

“I would say that he started taking the game seriously about three years ago and has been making steady progress. He is a highly tactical player which makes him a dangerous opponent. It only takes one mistake against him to lose a game.”

Nakapunda says the chess federation is fortunate to have Mbaha, as he can inspire deaf or blind chess players.

“This also proves chess is for people from all walks of life,” Nakapunda says.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-13

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