Crash victim makes all the right moves
While chess is not one of the most popularly played sports in his community, that never changed William Sambo’s dream of becoming a chess master one day.
While chess is not one of the most popularly played sports in his community, that never changed William Sambo’s dream of becoming a chess master one day.
The 17-year-old Grade 10 learner from Nkakabidi secondary school in Sekgakgapeng was part of the u/18 team that represented Limpopo during the annual school sport national winter games held in Durban, KwaZulu- Natal.
Before the championships, William only practiced chess with his teacher, Mr Piet Ratshabedi and sometimes with a friend, Tedishi Maake, who introduced him to the game.
His lack of experience and formal training was never a disadvantage as he managed to obtain a gold medal at district level and a silver at a regional level, while at the national level he managed a bronze.
William might not have received top honors at the national championships but he is grateful for the valuable experience he gained, “before competing with other experienced chess players I used to just play for fun but now I have learned that every single move on the board matters and should be counted”.
His teacher, Mr. Ratshabedi had nothing but praise for the young man’s achievements. “William is a very disciplined child who loves chess and school and with proper training he will be a star, this is evident from his latest achievements against seasoned players he was competing with”.
In 2011 William was hit by a car in front of his single mother’s RDP house. The driver of the car, which disembowelled him left him, lying down and sped off. He was rescued by neighbors.
His mother, Julia Sambo, who survives from a small income generated through selling scrap metals and doing part time domestic work, was very pleased with her son’s achievements. “Im hopeful that one day he will be a top chess player and help us out of poverty.”
William hopes that the little that he has achieved will earn him a club membership and also motivate his peers to participate in chess and take it seriously like other popular sporting codes such as football
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