03 May 2016

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) has finalised its senior and junior teams for the 15th edition of the Zone VI tournament.

Senior karatekas rounded their preparations for the national team slots in a three-legged point system matches a few weeks ago in Lobatse while on Saturday the association hosted the finals for the youth team. 

Prior to these final matches, BOKA hosted the north and south qualifiers and medalists from these two tournaments converged at the BOKA Dojo for the final matches.

The day long tournament produced some of the shocking upsets because some reputable karatekas lost to promising and upcoming youngsters especially in kumite. 

Former national team sensation, Gomolemo Mabolokane, watched in disbelief as the referees waved in favour of her opponent in individual kata. 

Mabolokane dominated this field for the past four years and scooped gold with the junior team in last year’s Zone VI after a formidable partnership with Otshepheng Kgosibodiba and Centy Kgosikoma.

In the boy’s individual kata, Mohamed Ali produced his fine form and inched past Mohamed Khan while in a repeat of the recent Gabs Open karate tournament Phillipe Revaka once again came out tops against closest rival Vincent Magalie. 

In another mouthwatering tie in the girls 16-17 years individual kata, Centy narrowly scored victory against her opponent Entle Maungwa. 

Centy recently returned from Sofia in Bulgaria where she was awarded silver in the closely contested Kofukan World Cup. 

Africa Youth Games medalist, Wathuto Maake, was unstoppable in the ladies under 21 individual kumite while Gaone Mothoyomotona won the 16-17years category. 

In the  10-11 years old girls kata champion, Lentle Tanyala, defended her title while Charlene Magalie scooped the 12-13 years kata. New comer, Kao Nsala, surprised the likes of Gabriel Seleke and Louis Madibela coming out tops in the boys 10-11 years kumite. 

Teto Wakwena also defended his under 21 kumite title very well.

Last year Botswana had sent a steam of 62 athletes to Johannesburg and brought home about 58 medals becoming second to the hosts. 

Gold medalists from this month’s Zone VI will automatically get a berth for the Africa Karate Federation billed for Durban in September. Ends