Zambia's Sports Council selects IM Simutowe as its top Sportsman!!

Breaking news out of Zambia!!!

On last night, IM Amon Simutowe was ceremoniously crowned as the  "2000 Zambian Sportsman of the Year," and also "Best Individual International Performance Title" for the year 2000. Zambian Chess Federation (ZCF) President Lewis Ncube remarked,

"This was a historical achievement in that he became the first chess player to win the award. For good measure he was also awarded the Best Individual International Performance Title for 2000. The National Sports Council of Zambia Awards Ceremonies are held annually and are the premier sporting recognition event of the year. In a country where football (soccer), boxing, athletics, volleyball, rugby and other events are perhaps more popular sporting activities, Amon's achievement is quite outstanding."

These magnificent accomplishments should provide additional motivation and justification for continued and increased support of chess activities in Zambia.

Zambia's premier five-star hotel, the Taj Pamodzi Hotel was the venue for the awards ceremony. In attendance were Zambian Chess Federation President, Lewis Ncube, the Tournaments Coordinator, David Zulu (who acceptedthe awards on Amon's behalf), and the newly-elected National Secretary for the ZCF, Andrew Muyaba.

The Zambian Chess Federation salutes Amon Simutowe and wish him success in his efforts in the U.S.

Three cheers for Amon!!

Posted by The Chess Drum: 9 June 2001