Luanda – The Angolan Chess Federation (FAX) received 500 chess boards on Monday as the materialization of a promise of the Head of State, João Lourenço, made on 19 June this year.
After attending a simultaneous exhibition in the scope of the children's month celebration, the Head of State had promised the delivery of material for the mass promotion of this sport and the promise is being fulfilled through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The offer was handed over by the minister of Youth and Sports, Ana Paula do Sacramento Neto, during a hearing granted to the National Chess team, after their successful participation in the African Youth Chess Championship and it is composed of 300 chess boards for mass promotion of the sport and 200 for high competition.
According to the minister it is an encouragement that will help the Federation to sort out some possible lack of material for maintenance of the sports science.
She stressed that chess is a sport that contributes to the practitioner´s intellect, thus suggesting adherence to its practice at the earliest possible stage in order for the person to gain good sporting and academic results.
Meanwhile, the vice president of the Angolan Chess Federation (FAX), António Assis stated that the material will help to consolidate the chess project for special education schools in Luanda, namely the one of Rangel and Óscar Ribas.
The Province of Namibe that will host the National Junior Championships in September, will also receive materials.
Among the African champions the chess players present in the hearing are Jemima Paulo (gold medal), Alexandre Prospero (silver medal) and Jaime Sonho (bronze medal).
The continental chess tournament was held earlier this month in Zambia.
At the headquarters of the Ministry of Youth and Sports was also present Luzia Pires, gold medal winner at the African Zone 4.5 individual championships, held in March in Lesotho.
