THE Anglican church in Zimbabwe has availed $1 680 to Mutare chess whiz kid and Zimbabwe’s highest ranked female player Colletah Wakuruwarewa (22), who is set to take part in the 42nd edition of the Olympiads to be held in Azerbaijan.

Colletah is scheduled to leave the country on Wednesday for the two-week competition which will start on Thursday to September 14.

In an interview with SportsZone, Reverend Enoch Ruwona, who is the Anglican Bishop of Manicaland, said the sponsorship was meant to cover Colletah’s travel expenses as well as other expenses she might face during the tournament.

“The sponsorship is meant to cushion Colletah as she embarks on this prestigious event. It covers her travel expenses as well as any other requirements she might need,” he said.

Colletah is the country’s current highest ranked female chess player having started playing chess in 2008.

She was the High Schools National champion in 2009 up to 2010.

Ruwona said the church was also happy to be supporting the girl child in this noble cause.

“It is important for the churches to support sport and give assistance especially to the girl child in raising the country’s flag high. Apart from the church, the corporate world should also come on board,” he said.

The Anglican Church is not only involved with chess as it also plays host to Africa Trust Football Club, an Eastern Region Division One outfit from Watsomba.

In 2011 Wakuruwarewa became the national champion a title that she has held to date.

Wakuruwarewa has attended the other editions of the previous Olympiads hosted in Norway where she fared well.

She expressed gratitude to the church for the financial assistance. 

“I am really happy with what the church has done for me. It is a source of inspiration for me to perform better when the tournaments begins. I promise to give it my best shot so that it can justify the help I got from the church,” she said.

Wakuruwarewa is also studying for a Diploma in Accounting with Mutare Polytechnical College.