24 Nov 2016

Young and senior karatekas from around the country will tomorrow descend on the northern city of Francistown for the annual Botswana Kofukan Federation National Youth and Senior Championship.

After a lengthy spell of inactivity at club and national team level for local karatekas, this years’ tournament which is open to other karate styles is expected to draw impressive competitors from all the five Kofukan regional structures around the country.

Undoubtedly, all eyes will be on the senior male’s under 84kg where a fierce battle is expected between the likes of Mpho Bosenakitso, Bose Caiphus and Mogakolodi Motlhabi. Bosenakitso has graduated to the under 84kg category after doing battle in the under 75kg where he failed to brag off fierce opposition from the likes of Oratile Caiphus.

However the energetic karateka from Francistown has prepared a hard to crack kumite team in the mold of One Ntalagwe, Batlaareng Shabane and Kabo Modisenyane.

Another interesting karateka to look forward to is former national team kumite sensation, Kabelo Molefhe.

Despite his unceremonious departure from the national team, Molefhe has never disappointed in all the regional tournaments.

In his last Kofukan championship, he managed to scoop a silver medal for individual kumite while his team grabbed gold.

He is leading a team to Francistown comprising of Oratile Caiphus, Nelson Matshamekwane, Tirafalo Tsimamma and Leruo Masole.

Zone VI kata champion, Centy Kgosikoma will be amongst the finest crop of female karatekas expected to grace the tournament. Some of the kumite contestants are Merylin Manthe, Thato Malunga and the Mabolokane sisters Lesedi and Gomolemo.

BKF spokesperson sensei George Tlhalerwa said in an interview that they will select a pool of karatekas from the championship for next years’ Kofukan World Championships penciled for the French capital Paris.

Funds permitting Tshikare said they were planning to send a good number of athletes to France.

The federation has in the past sent its students to the Shito-Ryu Karate-do International sanctioned tournament in Norway and lately Sofia in Bulgaria. BOPA