16 Oct 2017

Sensei Otsile Motsamai is driven by the desire to take karate to the next level. He is determined by all means to develop it from grass roots level.

The 36 year-old Karate lover and inspirational personnel said in an interview that gone were the days when sport was viewed as entertainment because in today’s times, one could earn a living through sport.

He observed that if sport could be taken more seriously, it could play a significant role in the diversification and transformation of the country’s economy.

Sensei Motsamai has voluntarily established Yun Genius karate club based in Francistown. The club aims at developing karate as a sporting code by instilling the skills and knowledge to children from grass roots level.

He explained that the club was officially registered in 2014 and it was not the first time he registered a karate club as he first started the move in Chobe district while he was working there.

In Chobe, he explained that he operated under Chobe Karate Club and he was able to help eight athletes who graduated to the national team.

After being transferred to Francistown, he continued with his commitment and determination, establishing the current club that is Yun Karate Genius, which has so far attracted about 75 people between the ages of four years to 21 years and above.

He explained that the participants were Francistown- based and mostly primary school going learners and attend their daily training after school.

Sensei Motsamai observed that in most instances, children got involved with karate while enrolling at junior and senior school level, which he said contributed to poor performance.

“I got to realise that the reason why upcoming karate athletes do not excel internationally is that they had enrolled for the sporting code very late while at junior and senior levels,” he added.

He said what he observed heightened his determination to close the gap by devoting his time and energy by volunteering to develop the sport from grass roots level with the ambition that in future, he will produce athletes that could represent the nation internationally and globally.

The karate instructor explained that with his Yun Genius karate club, he had so far produced about seven athletes who make the karate national team, citing Sempai Phuthi, who recently represented the country in Mozambique and did best as she became a gold medalist winner.

Meanwhile, Sensei Motsamai said lack of financial support, negatively impacted on him providing the participants with the necessary resources for the sporting code.

He also lamented the negativity that still existed among some parents who felt that engaging children in sporting activities was one way of consuming their studying time and encouraging failure.

He however maintained that despite the challenges, he was not moved as he vowed to continue trying to make his dream come true.

He said his team did well during the previous Shuto Ryo karate tournament held in Gaborone last month as he managed to win 65 medals.

Currently, the team readies itself for the upcoming Kom Championship tournament also to be held in Gaborone on November 4, 2017 as well as the much anticipated Botswana Karate Association championship to be held in Gaborone in December.

For their part, participants expressed appreciation of the club formation explaining that it had helped them unearth their karate sporting talents and endeavours to making a living out of the sport.

The young karateka, Phuthi, who is in the national team, did not hide her appreciation for what she had become through Yun Genius karate club.

She was optimistic that her life will be changed through the sport as well as adding value to the diversification of the country’s economy through sports.

Another karateka, Wesley Gachala highlighted that the training they received was beneficial in keeping their body physically fit.

He further explained that they did not only get trained in Karate as they also got to enjoy life skills that they could use in future to improve their living standards. ENDS