09 Apr 2018

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) has assembled a strong contingent of karatekas ahead of next month’s Africa Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 karate championships to be staged in Gaborone.

The senior national team and the junior team underwent a joint training programme over the weekend to brace for the closely contested regional tournament.

The two teams have an impressive history at the matches having won the last two tournaments held in Zimbabwe and Mozambique in 2016 and last year respectively.

BOKA has called into camp some of the finest and most promising young talent to defend the title.

Amongst others the junior team will look up to the likes of Gabriel Seleke and Kao Nsala to battle for gold in the 12-13 years individual kata and kumite category.

The 12-year-old Galaletsang Primary School pupil Seleke has been impressive in regional competitions since breaking into the national team two years ago.

He is expected to defend the title he won in Mozambique last year.

Experience will come in handy in the under 75kg individual kumite where SSKB karateka Oratile Caiphus is expected to fight tooth and nail.

Caiphus brings an array of experience and talent to the youthful team after having taken part in a number of zonal tournaments in the past.

He has been to countries like Serbia, Norway and France amongst others and has attended revered karate tournaments in the process.

Continentally he has taken part in last years’ Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) tournament in Cameroon.

He is likely to form a great team with the on-form Quinton Mosupiemang.

In the ladies category the national team will rely on the under 21-kata sensation Entle Maungwa.

The 18-year-old SSKB Hayashi-Ha karateka is undoubtedly at the prime of her playing days.

Her first call to the national team was when the team travelled to Johannesburg for the Zone VI championships.

In Zimbabwe she won gold in kumite and settled for the second spot in kata.

During her time with the junior team Maungwa formed a great team kata with Centy Kgosikoma and Otshepheng Kgosibodiba.

They are expected to carry the same form to the elite level.

Another interesting karateka in the senior ladies category is 19-year-old Rising Stars athlete Thabang Maleke.

Maleke’s strength lies in kumite and she also brings experience to the team having taken part in past regional tournaments.

She proved to her mettle after coming out tops in the recent past national selections beating the likes of Tsholofelo Maduma and Tlotlo Chimbise to the first spot.

Speaking on the sidelines of the high intensive training camp senior team coach sensei Peter Molefhe said preparations are going down well for his charges.

He said they have covered all necessary techniques and have observed areas to work on during the past tournaments.

Molefhe admitted to possibilities of facing tough opponents especially from South Africa and Zimbabwe which according to him is coming of age.

Meanwhile after the AUSC tournament BOKA will prepare to host the UFAK championships next year.

Botswana won the bid to host the tournament last year in Cameroon. This year the games are played in Kigali, Rwanda. ENDS