22 Mar 2015

The Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) Interim Committee programmes coordinator Shihan Mpho Bakwadi is adamant that an array of medals is in the offing at the forthcoming Zone VI championships slated for Durban-South Africa in May.

Speaking on the side-lines of the final round of the BOKA national championships Bakwadi said they will select two karatekas in each category for the senior team while one karateka from the junior team will qualify for one slot.

The World Karate Federation sanctioned tournament will act as another qualifying round for the highly competitive All Africa Games pencilled for Congo Brazzaville.

Botswana performed exceptionally well in the last edition of the AAG’s which were hosted in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011 with Ofentse Bakwadi bringing home silver in individual kata while Thato Malunga got bronze for individual kumite, individual kata and team kumite.

The men’s team kumite were thrown out in the preliminaries by North African power house Tunisia.

On March 21 karatekas were seemingly on a mean mood to wrap up the championships which crowned the winner through a point system with the highest number of points accumulated over the entire three games qualifying one for gold.

African youth champion Thabang Setshego came out tops in his debut in the men’s under 21kg.

Katlego Tsenene performed exceptionally well in the u75kg while Khaya Groth won the u84kg crown.

In the men’s over 84kg Moses Jones emerged the overall winner with China Metswi coming close on the second spot. Former national team sensation Nshingi Mosalagae won the ladies over 68kg while u61kg went to Tsholofelo Maduma.

Kabelo Molefhe displayed an improved performance in the last round and produced a shocking result knocking out Bakwadi for the first spot. Tirafalo Tsimamma who graduated to the senior team was also impressive in the u60kg while u75kg sensation Mpho Bosenakitso reproduced last year’s form to retain his title just ahead of Oratile Caiphus.

Baone Radiposo came on the second spot after Malunga who has been on fine form locally and regionally. The ladies team kata went to SSG while Bakwadi, Groth and Emmanuel Buleyani capped up a good performance by snatching the men’s team kata. ENDS