26 Oct 2015

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) sport development officer in charge of youth development, China Metswi, has expressed disappointment at the low turn up at this year’s national junior championship.

Speaking on the sidelines of the championship in Gaborone on Saturday October 24, Metswi attributed the poorly attended tournament to school commitments as most of athletes were either sitting for their junior certificate or BGCSE. 

Metswi said they were expecting over 200 karatekas for the event but a paltry 70 turned up mostly from the Mogoditshane based SSKB karate club under stewardship of Sensei Peter Molefhe.

No team from outside Gaborone was registered for the tournament. Even at national level, the youth team  was inactive with the last performance at the end of March selection for the Zone VI tournament which took place in Johannesburg in June. 

After the weekend’s championship, BOKA would host another championship in February next year to select a youth team for the Zimbabwe-bound Zone VI tournament.

Nevertheless, the few karatekas who turned up put up a polished performance and a few upsets were recorded. 

In the absence of Africa junior champion Thabang Setshego, his team mate Teto Wakwena overcame Thabiso Selaolo in the boys 16 to 17 years individual kumite. 

Just after Wakwena’s victory, Gofaone Mosupiemang worked tirelessly to a slim victory against Ernest Rantsho. 

In the boys’ 6 to 9 years category, Gabriel Leburu was in a mean mood scooping both the individual kata and the individual kumite against Johan Motoane and Norman Leburu respectively. 

Joseph Chifana was lucky to escape Kagiso Mophuting’s quick and well-timed keaki-zukes.

However, Mophuting dusted himself up and won the individual kata category. 

Martin Motseke won the boys’ 10 to 11 years kata while Tsholofelo Otsogile was crowned champion in the girls’ category. 

Masa Primary school’s sensational youngster Lentle Tanyala scooped double gold for kata and kumite. Tanyala is in excellent shape after being crowned the Zone VI champion in kumite. Louis Madibela was also impressive in the boys’ 10 to 11 years kumite. Ends