28 Feb 2016

Botswana Kofukan Federation will select a team of karatekas that will take part at the annual Kofukan World Championships.

The World Karate Federation sanctioned tournament is penciled for one of Europe’s oldest and historically rich capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia from the 22^nd of April to the 24th. 

European karate powerhouses such as France, Italy and Greece amongst others are expected to grace the championships that will also see some of Africa’s finest crop of karatekas especially from the North of the Sahara Desert take part.

In the previous tournament, which was organised by the Shito-Ryu Karate-do International, Kofukan Botswana had sent four karatekas to the much fancied matches. 

Oratile Caiphus, Mogakolodi Motlhabi, Nelson Matshamekwane and Kabelo Molefhe had travelled to the southern coastal city of Asker in Norway for the tournament. 

Speaking on the sidelines of Saturday’s Botswana Kofukan Open, one of the tournament’s organisers sensei George Tshikare said they were impressed by the level of maturity from the karatekas and they were expecting a better attendance. Sensei Tshikare said funds permitting they intend to send a considerable number of karatekas to Sofia to compete in both kata and kumite categories. 

On Saturday female kumite gold prospect Thato Malunga was declared winner after referee stopped contest in the female over 60kg due to Tsholofelo Maduma’s fractured finger. 

Malunga travelled to Portugal in 2012 for the Kofukan World Cup together with Mpho Bosenakitso and Moses Jones and there were impressive scooping of four medals in the process. Maduma’s injury is a blow to the national team scouts as preparations for selection are being stepped up.

She forms a formidable partnership with Malunga and Baone Radiposo in the ladies team kata and they are current Zone VI champions. Maduma had made it to the finals after beating Lebogang Motswela. Another interesting match was the under 61kg male kumite between Batlaareng Shabane and Kabo Modisenyane where Shabane was declared the winner after a tight contest. 

The individual female kata was won by Panaki Tlhoolebe while Aobakwe Gare won the male kata. Tirafalo Tsimamma won the male indidual kata beating veteran Kabelo Molefhe while Carlos Dambe beat Tumelo Gaboinewe in the male under 75kg. ENDS