16 Feb 2015

Different sporting codes are starting to spring up across the country.

Speaking in an interview recently, Sensei Steven Motlalepuo who recently opened a karate club in Gumare, said he took the decision to curb children from roaming the streets in their region.

He said there were no recreational and sports facilities in their region apart from soccer and netball that were only administered under the constituency tournaments. Motlalepuo, who is also a primary school teacher at Kelekele Primary School, said he started with only three boys from his school.

He said the boys made their first Kata performance last year at the June 16 commemorations following which some pupils got interested in joining the club. Sensei Motlalepuo said the interest shown by children from other schools informed his decision to turn it into a village club rather than a school club.

He said this was the first karate club in their region.  Sensei Motlalepuo said when the club started he was operating from his spare bedroom and he did not have enough space to accommodate more students. 

He said with his love for sport, which started at an early age of seven, inspired him to go around the village to look for space which he managed to secure after a several failed attempts. He said some of the people turned his request down saying they did not like karate.

He said their club targeted children aged from four to 20 as they did not have anything to do after school.  Challenges they faced, Sensei Motlalepuo said, included not having enough space, training equipment and attire. 

Cha Cha Ryu, as the cub is named, not only engages in karate but also dealt with traditional martial arts and Kung Fu. He said the name was derived from the Cha Cha dance as most of their styles involved the Cha Cha dance movements

Sensei Motlalepuo urged parents to let their children join the club as the sport encouraged discipline, was also good for the health and kept children busy. He also pleaded with the corporate world to help them with funds to make their mission a success. ENDS