Lubabalo Kondlo

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I decided to open a separate topic on this importatnt subject.

I wonder how he'd get on against Alex?

On my part - I am wondering how he plays against SA players. As far as I know - after 2003 when he won last time SA National, he never played again and today he is not a member of SA Federation and has some sort of conflict with it. Here is an information I received recently when tried to validate Lubabalo words that he is "best SA player".

1. He is not affiliated to Mind Sports South Africa,
2. He has not qualified in terms of play to represent South Africa,
3. He has not qualified to represent South Africa by doing the necessary development,

Here is a list of official SA Champions in the past 4 years

2003 - Lubabalo Kondlo
2004 - Mothusi Moabi
2005 - Thambile Nqezo
2006 - Thabo Mokoena

I also received an email from Mr. Colin Webster, the President of Mind Sports in SA, who said that Lubabalo can't represent SA in any way, including participation in QT etc., and his name cannot be associated with Federation or country.

While reading Lubabalo's letter to Dennis Pawlek I understand now, that since 2003 he stopped playing in his country and started looking sponsors outside, sending emails to ACF, Germany ... and probably other places as well.

Helping personally to Lubabalo to play in Las Vegas was indeed a good thing for Lubabalo, but this action didn't help to promote checkers in SA. There are many other good outstanding players here, who has financial problems to participate in International events.

Maybe future potential sponsors who wants to help and promote checkers in SA should award an "official SA Champions", not personal awarding - this would raise an interest and respect to event

Respectfully,

Alex Moiseyev
3-move Checker World Champion

[Mr. Checkers]

"but this action didn't help promote checkers in SA". Alex this is nothing more than a "value judgment"--your personal opinion. How are we to know what impact that this tournament win by Lubabalo had on the checker players in SA, especially the aspiring young players who may look up to Lubabalo as their role model. Also nothing is said in your message about the good things that Lubabalo as been engaged in to promote checkers in his country. It would have been nice of you to have extended your research into the positives aspects of Lubabalo checker career as well. Lubabalo travels all the way from SA to America--is victorious over all his checker opponents at the national tournament and all that we can do is find fault with his checker resume. I personally don't care if he was the best checker player that SA has to offer. He won the tournament outright--and if there are better players in SA then why would they have wanted to come here when LUBABALO COULD TAKE CARE OF ALL CONTENDERS BY HIMSELF without their help. "Mr. Checkers"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Mr. Checkers - he came here because American sponsor paid for HIS expances. If this sponsor would pay for SA Champion expances - we may have other guests. And indeed his visit here didn't promote anything. If it was a sponsors goal - they didn't achieve it.

It is not my intention and destination to post "positive" things here, there are other so-called "promoters" to do this. My destination - help checkers and Federations ... and equal opportunitiy for everyone.

I don't like favoritism in any form.

Again ... I hope the people who sponsored Lubabalo read this post:

If you want to promote Draughts in South Africa, please, award National Champions (whoever they are), not a personal award.

Sincerely,

Alex Moiseyev

[Mr. Checkers]

Alex did you check into the fact that other SA checker (champions) players may not have wanted to attend or may have been unable to attend this tournament for other personal reasons? "Mr. Checkers"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

[quote=""Mr. Checkers""] Alex did you check into the fact that other SA checker (champions) players may not have wanted or been able to attend this tournament for personal reasons? "Mr. Checkers"[/quote]Yes, sure I checked this fact. They wanted but don't have a money.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Mr. Checkers, if you want to help SA players, send me a check $25 to cover mail expances and I will immediately send "Sixth" to the President of SA National Draughts Federation for future delivery to players.

Anyone else also can do this.

Sincerely,

Alex Moiseyev

[Mr. Checkers]

So that is really no different than the fact that many of America's best players don't attend major checker events--"money". So we accept the outcomes of our checker tournaments from the ones that can afford to attend even though they may not have been the best players available. Lets give credit where credit is due here. "We fight desperately to promote checkers on the one hand, while on the other hand we create situations that alienate people from even wanting to play". "Mr. Checkers"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

[quote=""Mr. Checkers""]Lets give credit where credit is due here. [/quote]Giving a credits and bla-bla talks is a wasting time ! I am trying to do something real - pointer attention and target sponsors into right directions. If this happened - you can give credit to me

Here is an email I (and other) received a minutes ago:

======================================================================

Dear Alex

Thank you for your e-mail and support.

I personally am a great believer in ensuring that our top 'names' are involved in measurable development programmes.

Readers may be interested to note that since 2002 Mind Sports South Africa has distributed over 17,000 Draughts/Morabaraba sets to clubs, schools, the army, and Universities in an attempt to promote both games.

Should anyone require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Colin Webster
President
Mind Sports South Africa
P O Box 19275
FISHER'S HILL
1408
Tel: 011 828 4994
Fax: 086 641 7313
Cell: 073 593 9451
e-mail: mindsportssa@iafrica.com
URL: http://www.mindsportssa.freeservers.com/

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) is an affiliate of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee.

The MSSA is responsible for the good governance and promotion of Historical figure games (also known as wargames), Board games (such as Diplomacy, Checkers, Draughts, Morabaraba, etc), and Computer games (whether they are played on

[Mr. Checkers]

Alex we have been selling checker books to the SA players for several years now, but I am sure that they would welcome any complimentary copies of the "6th" that you would care to send to them. "Mr. Checkers"

[Mr. Checkers]

Alex if you want foreign checker players to return to take part in our future checkers events it may be suggested that they be made to feel welcome through ones positive oratory before hand. To alienate them through harsh statements will certainly not accomplish this objective. "Mr. Checkers"

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Indeed my postings are not "positive" or "negative". They are constructive. When I post something - I am worry about contest, not - how they look like.

The good thing is - Mr. Webster, SA Draughts Federation President, registered in our forum and is awaiting when his account will be approved and activated. Then we can hear from him directly.

Concerning Lubabalo Kondlo, our new USA GAYP National Champion 2007 - I wish him all best and become wealthy enough to play checkers in his country and Worldwide. I also wish him to resolve his conflict with his own Federation which would be benefficiary for everyone and checkers.

Sincerely,

Alex

[Mr. Checkers]

As I said earlier--"Lets give credit to where credit is due"--and in this case it is to be given to Lubabalo Kondlo. "Mr. Checkers"

[Jay H]

Or....should I not be knowing that these passages are taking place..

If so....

Anyway.... Interesting dialogue



Regards,

Jay H

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Jay, me and my long time friend Mr. Checkers have this dialogue for years - what is the best way to promote checkers. His position is very respectable: if you don't have anything positive to say - say nothing !

My position is quite different - clean negatives whenever possible and at any occasion you see them !

In this particular case credits can be given only to sponsors. But we should help them to spend money in the most efficient and benefficiary way for players and checkers.

Sincerely,

Alex Moiseyev

[Mr. Checkers]

Alex one of the things that the ACF has been seeking over the past few years was--"sponsors", which seem to be few and far between when it comes to checkers. Such rarities should be able to determine how their monies are to be spent without our guidance. And I am sure that Lubabalo's sponsors were more than pleased with the outcome, since they backed the winner. "Mr. Checkers"