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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
CHEZIYA High School students could miss a chance of a lifetime to represent Zimbabwe at the World Schools Chess tournament as their trip to Kazakhstan was still shrouded in uncertainty by late yesterday.
The team has encountered huge logistical challenges ahead of their scheduled departure for the tournament today.
Although the Zimbabwe Chess Federation said they had secured a travel grant from their international organisation, FIDE, their travel agency delayed in processing the tickets after the funds failed to reflect on time.
“The travel grant from FIDE for the tickets was credited to our account on July 28 and a transfer to a booking agency was processed the same day for secured tickets.
“The team was supposed to depart from Harare’s RGM Airport on the August 2 (today) but tickets could only be issued once the money reflected in the travel agency’s account.
“By the time the money reflected in the agency’s account, airlines advised that they had already cancelled the initial bookings.
“A rebooking put the new ticket price to double of the original cost to final destination, with tickets for local connection flights with a distance of 2 800km within Kazakhstan not yet confirmed as of Monday.
“In the event that we fail to secure safe and convenient tickets to the final destination before the start of the tournament, we will have no option but to cancel the trip and refund FIDE.
“Kazakhstan Chess Federation and FIDE are assisting from their end at a cost not yet defined.
“We are thankful to the corporates that are on board to assist this lifetime opportunity for Cheziya High Chess School Team.
“The safe and comfortable travel of our Cheziya High School Chess Team remains our priority and is not negotiable,” they stated.
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