Young Victoria Falls chess coach wants to conquer the world

BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Young Victoria Falls chess coach Alpha Mathe says his mission is to put the city on the world map by producing champions in the sport by imparting skills to children from an early stage.

Mathe (18) coaches the Victoria Falls duo of Andile Cornelius Mpofu and Emmanuel Zivambiso, both aged seven, who have been making waves in regional and national chess tournaments where they have ranked high.

The young coach has made it his mission to training a group of children in Victoria Falls from as young as four.

Mathe says his vision is to produce competitive players, who can represent Africa in world chess tournaments.

Our reporter Nothando Dube (ND) spoke to Mathe (AM) about his passion and below are excerpts from the interview.

ND: Please briefly tell us, who Alpha Mathe is?

AM: Alpha is a young motivated chess player and coach from Victoria Falls.

He is a patient and passionate coach driven by the motto “chess is for all”

ND: How can you describe your type of sport?

AM: I played chess as a sport in high school.

As I was playing for a team participating in competitions, I was also teaching lower grade players in my team and they were doing great.

That’s when I developed the passion to start my own academy.

ND: What would you say marked the beginning of your chess career?

AM: When I was 15 years old, l got five students whom l coached as we were preparing for an Easter tournament in 2019 and since then, I’ve never looked back.

ND: Can you tell us about your recent achievement in terms of awards.

AM: My youngest passionate student Andile Mpofu has battled in the Olympiad Academy Schools Championships and he is the second best chess player in Zimbabwe in under eight categories.

In a Candidates tournament event held in Bulawayo early this month, two players from my academy scooped second and third positions respectively that is Mpofu and Emmanuel Zivambiso, both seven years old)

I played in two provincial chess tournaments representing Matabeleland North and I came third in both events where I was awarded bronze medals and certificates.

I also played in the national championships under the Open section in Victoria Falls and came out third best again.

In April this year, I graduated in hotel operations management and web design from Tech Savvy International College where I was awarded with a distinction in web design.

Alpha Mathe coaching one of his players

ND: What targets have you set yourself as a coach?

AM: My target is to produce to the world the youngest grandmaster in Africa.

With so much competition it motivates me to keep on focusing and busy with the goal.

ND: What challenges do you face as a coach based outside big cities such as Harare and Bulawayo?

AM: Finding sponsors.

In Victoria Falls, however, chess is not yet recognized as the sport is still developing.

It is hard to find sponsors and not many people understand the game of chess.

The competition is tough and when we travel for events like Harare, I have always admired other sponsored teams which will be in full team uniform with their team bus and fully prepared

ND: What targets have you set for yourself?

AM: In the next two years, I wish to have the grand opening of a school of chess.

It is a vision that I have set myself and the school will cater for all.

Players who play chess have fun, they will come in and have some games and pay for certain hours.

Some profits will go towards the underprivileged and accommodation will be provided to players from different locations and sponsored members of the institution

My target is to bring out players representing our country in world events.

 ND: Where can people find you?

AM: We are looking for a fixed chess training venue. At the moment we practice at a house scale setup. My contacts are 00263 778277361 or 0063 784228150.

I also plan to start a YouTube Channel on chess coaching.

 ND: Who is your inspiration?

AM: I was inspired by my brother Romeo Destiny Ncube, who introduced me to the brain game in 2016.

He is determined and hardworking and always passionate about what he does.

He participated in youth games in 2017 and is one of the best chess players in Zimbabwe.

Also, Blessings Dube who coached me until I was in high school, I greatly appreciate him.

ND: Besides coaching chess, what else do you do to earn a living?

AM: I am doing event management and graphic designing.

I do chess full time. I teach the sport in schools from kindergarten, primary, secondary and college.