10 Mar 2016

Senior karatekas will descend the lively town of Lobatse on Saturday to square up for a final berth of national team honours.

Having gone through a closely contested two legged tie during the past weeks, high octane action is expected when they meet again for the final round of the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) Senior Championship selection.

The annual event which is one of the physically taxing tournaments in the BOKA calendar, prepares karatekas for the forthcoming Zone VI tournament in Zimbabwe and also the African Karate Championships slated for August in Libreville, Gabon. All eyes will be on the senior male’s Under 60kg where a fierce battle for kumite honors is expected between Thabang Setshego, Batlaareng Shabane and Rafael Reid. Shabane and Setshego are tied on 140points after the first two rounds and they are going into the final round with Reid lagging behind them with a slim 10points.

The category is wide open and is likely to draw attention. An interesting duel is in the U67kg where former U60kg champion Tirafalo Tsimamma is facing a mammoth task against Lemogang Keolopile and Gofaone Mosupiemang.

Keolopile has already impressed with double gold in the last two rounds and Tsimamma is now left with Mosupiemang to overcome for the second spot. Oratile Caiphus beat Mpho Bosenakitso for the U75kg title, while Oarabile Dambe has to put up a polished performance to beat Bosenakitso to the second spot. Competition is also wide open with the likes of Nelson Matshamekwane and Mompati Johnson still harboring ambitions for the second spot.

Another highlight of the afternoon will be the U84kg push for the final slot between Mogakolodi Motlhabi and Bose Caiphus. The two are tied on points with Joseph Molodi breathing heavily on them. Former national team sensation Kaene Kago is bottom placed and keeping fingers crossed for the second spot.

Ofentse Bakwadi is still leading the pack in senior males kata closely followed by Tlotlang Ponatshego who will be looking to put the game beyond Emmanuel Bulayane and Koketso Masena’s reach.

In ladies U61kg hope is now pinned on Wabo Knabb after Tsholofelo Maduma was ruled out with an injury. In the U68kg Marilyn Manthe has defended her slot after representing Botswana in last year’s Zone VI. Thato Malunga has also defended her double gold in both kata and kumite while Lesedi Mabolokane will fight to cement her slot in the female U50kg kumite. Ends