04 Dec 2017

Kofukan Karate academy are champions of this year’s Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) national club championships.

The team, made up of Kofukan karate clubs around the country fought like lions attacking wild boars to retain the title they won last year after bitterly losing to arch rivals Glen valley karate club the previous season.

The Saturday resounding victory followed their massive dominance of both team kata and team kumite categories of the BOKA sanctioned tournament hosted at the BUAN multipurpose hall. The ladies team led by the veteran karateka, Thato Malunga marched past their opponents with relative ease.

The female team kata, which comprised of Malunga, Centy Kgosikoma and Otshepheng Kgosibodiba started the onslaught when they convinced all the judges to be crowned champions in their category.

Soon afterwards, Malunga joined the pair of Kgomotso Chakabuya and Martha Chilume to scoop the female team kumite beating Dojo 20 Karate club to the first spot. It was a bout between Chakabuya and seasoned karateka Lame Hetanang that caught much attention from the crowd and the youthful Chakabuya pulled a surprise victory against her opponent.

Kofukan male team kata executed well-coordinated moves to clinch the best male kata team.

The trio of Thabo Letshwiti, Tefo Zacharia and Thebe Duna were impressive throughout the first and second round until they were finally crowned champions beating BW Champs Karate club and Dojo club to the first spot.

They capped up another sweet victory in the boys team kumite 16-17 years when Tshepo Monageng, Lame Stock, Gustavo Kgalemang, Katlego Boyase and Ronald Jakoba won the title.

Tshegofatso Chepete, Oratile Nkhumisang and Onkemetse Chepete were crowned winners in the girl’s 16-17-team kumite category. In the boy’s 14-17 years team kata Gabriel Modise, Thabo Inger and Louis Madibela were finally declared champions after a closely contested first and second round against Young Genius Karate club and Dojo 20.

Young Genius, visiting from Francistown dusted up and beat Kofukan in the girl’s 14-17 years team kata.

Melrose Phuti, Goitsemodimo Jim and Patience Stephen were in fine form against their hard to crack opponents. Ends