Following their election on Sunday, the top new office bearers of the Rwanda Chess Federation (FERWADE) have said they are well aware of the huge task at hand and will do whatever it takes to develop the game in the country.

Delegates elected Kevin Ganza, Rugema Ngarambe, Alain Patience Niyibizi and Christella Rugabira, as president, vice president, secretary general and treasurer respectively, for a four-year term of office.

"Let’s admit it; chess in Rwanda is still down. We all need to up our team efforts to get it where it deserves to be, up. The country expects much from this federation. Many people doubt us. It is up to us to prove them wrong,” Ganza said after being elected.

He added that, "I don’t believe that our neighbors; Uganda, Tanzania or Kenya really have better chess players. The ball is in our court now. Let’s train more kids and, get organized.”

Ngarambe was the only new comer as Ganza has been vice president, while Niyibizi and Rugabira retained their posts.

The election came at a time when, despite sizeable steps forward in growing the game locally were registered in the recent past, management issues continued to harm the game’s progression.

On Sunday, delegates also elected two advisors, a technical director, three technical committee members and three conflict resolution committee members as well as two auditors.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw