Msogwaba chess coach Eddie Bhila has all the right moves
Bhila has written a book, The Coach: Life Adventures Through Chess.
Chess is a productive pastime as it results in better brain function, improved memory, cognitive abilities, strategic thinking and attention improvement.
Eddie Bhila developed a passion for chess when he attended university in 2010 and decided to help the youth from Msogwaba with his new found skill.
“I was at university when I first encountered chess and made a decision to come back and impart it to the young people in my community,” he said.
Bhila started coaching chess in 2013.
“My aim was to help develop our community through chess. Teaching it will help to create new leaders who think cognitively and strategically,” went on Bhila.
He visited one of the local schools to obtain permission to teach chess, and it turned out better than he had imagined.
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“I visited Msogwaba Primary School and talked to the principal, and explained the difference that chess makes in a young person’s mind, that it shapes the young mind. She gave me permission to coach a group of pupils who were interested. I started coaching the learners with only one chess set and we took it from there. We started going to chess tournaments. The first one was not that great, but from the second tournament onward we always got podium finishes,” said Bhila.
Banele Mhango, one of Bhila’s students, has made a name for himself, going all the way represent this province and country. He became the national and African champion.
“I am happy that he has gone to be where he is now. He has added value to my efforts and my contribution,” said Bhila.
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Bhila has written a book, The Coach: Life Adventures Through Chess.
“The book is not about chess but about social development and the need to create role models in our community and highlighting the important achievements in my community. I wanted this book to inspire others to do more in their communities,” he explained.
Bhila was inspired when Banele became a national chess champion.
“I released that my effort meant something. I just wanted to tell the younger generation that they too can become something. I strongly believe that we should give back to our communities. Everybody has a skill that they can help the younger generation with, and we need to share it with them. That way we can have innovative and skilled youth in our communities. That is what the book is about,” said Bhila.
