Grintek Limited responded to the plight of two of SA`s top junior chess players selected to participate in the Junior World Chess Championship in Azerbaijan, later this month, by contributing R10 000 towards travelling and tournament costs.
Johannes Mabusela (18) and Cecile van der Merwe (16) won the Africa Junior Chess Championships in Botswana in December 2002. This meant that the two qualified to participate in two major international tournaments - the Dubai Open Chess Championships and the Under-20 Junior World Chess Championships.
After missing the Dubai event due to lack of funding, it seemed a great pity not to have SA represented at the Junior World Chess Championships. It was at this point that Grintek decided to adopt their cause.
Xinyamisi Shemane-Diseko, head of corporate affairs at Grintek, said: "Grintek strives to achieve excellence in our business and these two players, having showed their mettle, are symbolic of this excellence. We believe that they deserved an opportunity to challenge the world`s best under-20 chess players."
Mabusela, a student at a technical training centre in Pretoria-West and the son of a domestic worker, and Van der Merwe, a scholar with the highest rating in chess for South African women, have a talent and passion for the game of chess that should not be dampened due to financial constraints.
"The Junior World Championship is going to be an exciting and thrilling challenge, and I hope to make SA proud," said an excited Mabusela at the Grintek send-off function ahead of their departure on 18 June.
"It would be a pity if these outstanding young South Africans again missed the opportunity to participate in an international tournament and we are delighted that we have been instrumental in making it possible for their dreams to come true," continued Shemane-Diseko.
The Junior World Championships in Azerbaijan will be the second opportunity for Mabusela to participate abroad. "I am very excited about testing my ability and skill against the best in the world."
"We will be watching these two talented individuals with interest at the Junior World Championships and wish them all the very best of luck in the weeks ahead. This tournament will be an opportunity for SA to prove that we are a highly talented nation," concluded Shemane-Diseko.
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