07 Dec 2017

Botswana’s most decorated kata champion sensei Ofentse Bakwadi capped up a wonderful season by being chosen the finest karateka at the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) Awards on Saturday.

The 32-year-old coach, athlete and national team captain added to his impressive trophy cabinet another award after being voted the best senior male karateka.
Bakwadi has had a bumper season after being crowned the Botswana National Sport Commission Sportsman of the year for the just ended season.

A Fifth Dan black belt in karate, Bakwadi also impressed in Yaoundé, Cameroon and was chosen as the Union Federation of African Karate individual kata champion, becoming the first Motswana to earn such an accolade. To put the icing on the cake, Bakwadi’s Hayashi Ha senior male team came out tops in their category and were crowned overall champions.

In other awards, 2014 Africa Youth Games champion Thabang Setshego won the best junior male, while last Zone VI individual kata champion Lentle Tanyala was voted the best junior female.

Best senior female went to on form JKA sensation Lame Hetanang. Francistown-based Kofukan instructor, Otto Tafa won the coach of the year award, while Bakwadi’s elder brother, Mpho was voted referee of the year. Former BOKA treasurer, Lere Basupang walked home with the administrator of the year award, while presidential certificate was awarded to Fatima Khan.

Kofukan capped up a perfect afternoon after being voted federation of the year award. The federation’s clubs countrywide had earlier on the day won the BOKA national club championships which preceded the award night.

BOKA president, sensei Tshepo Bathai commended those who helped organise the awards, which were held for the first time in 20 years. He said it was the association’s intention to not only cultivate and produce great athletes, but also celebrate success and achievements. “These achievements did not go unnoticed as karate was mentioned and congratulated by President Lt Gen Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama in his State of the Nation Address recently said. Ends