Leemisa Thuseho
CHESS Federation of Lesotho (CFL) president Tšeliso Motloheloa is eying another four-year term at the helm of the organisation having led it for the past eight years.
Had it not been for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the association would have already called for its general elections in March this year.
The association has however said it will go ahead with plans for its elections when the moratorium on local sports is lifted.
Motloheloa told the Lesotho Times on Tuesday that if he is elected for his third term, then it would be his last.
“I am going to contest in the elections but that will for my last term if I win,” Motloheloa said.
Although there are others whom he knows intend to challenge him, Motloheloa said none of them was competent enough to lead the organisation. And since there are no term limits, he will stand in the election again.
Motloheloa is also a member of FIDE Chess in Education Commission following his appointment last year.
In 2016 he was suspended from the presidency after being accused of misusing the federation’s funds from the World Chess Federation. He was only reinstated towards the end of 2018 after the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.
Tlhoriso Morienyane, who was the acting president during Motloheloa’s absence said he was yet to decide whether or not he would run in the election.
Motloheloa said he was happy with his achievements since taking over the association in 2012.
He said under his leadership, the association’s constitution was registered with the Law Office and the organisation was also recognised by the Lesotho Sport and Recreation Commission (LSRC), African Chess Federation (ACC) and International Chess Federation (FIDE).
“We also managed to increase the number of schools playing chess from six to 40.
“The federation is also running the developmental programme called MiniChess Programme aimed at introducing chess to young children.”
In 2014, the federation also sent two athletes to the World Amateur Chess Championship in Singapore while the country has been taking part in the World Chess Olympiad since 2014.
