20 Feb 2017

Senior karatekas started the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) senior national team selection championship on high gear producing some major upsets in the process.

The first round of the three tier championship was hosted at the BOKA dojo and will see medalist from the final round make the grade for the national team that will take part in the 16th Senior African Karate Federation (UFAK) Championships penciled for Yaoundé,, Cameroon in May and the annual Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 tournament billed for Maputo,  Mozambique at a later date.

On Saturday in the male under 60kg individual kumite, Tshwaragano Mahakole brewed a shocker when he inched past the likes of Raphael Reid and Thabang Setshego for the first spot.

The injury prone Setshego is nursing a nagging injury that he picked in the previous tournaments and remains a worrying factor for the national team scouts as his absence in national team colours would be a blow to medal hopes at the regional games.

In the under 67kg, Lemogang Keolopile beat Tirafalo Tsimamma and Teto Wakwena to the top spot. In the senior U75kg, Oratile Caiphus continued his dominance over traditional rival, Nelson Matshamekwane.

The latter had a gloomy tournament as he fell for the last spot below Quinton Mosupiemang and Karabo Rantlole. Mpho Bosenakitso who graduated from the under75kg category made an impressive debut in the under 84kg ahead of veteran karatekas Kaene Kago, Mompati Johnson and Joseph Molodi.

In the elite division Mogakolodi Motlhabi got all the points on offer ahead of Moses Jones and Lucky Siele in the second and third spot respectively.

In the ladies category Tsholofelo Maduma beat Lebogang Moswela and Panaki Tlhoolebe in the U68kg.

Merylin Manthe beat Malebogo Robert and Ntombi Sephatla in the U68kg+.

Another interesting duel was the male individual kumite, where Ofentse Bakwadi was in fine form ahead of Emmanuel Bulayani and Boemo Ramasimong. In the female category Kgomotso Chakabuya shocked Lame Hetanang and Wathuto Maake. BOPA