04 Jun 2018

Although only 20 years, he has learned a lot from his numerous losses in fights in the dusty little village of Digawana, and on the red and blue mat at the dojo.
Gofaone Mosupiemang, or simply the Fortune-teller carries a boyish charm and contagious smile that might give someone a wrong impression about him, but he kicks like a mule and packs a punch as hard as a claw hammer.
The first dan black belt karateka fell in love with the sport not many years ago like many of his peers. He took up karate lessons when he was doing his junior certificate at Itekeng Junior Secondary School in Ghanzi.
Inspired by the likes of Africa Youth Games gold medalist Leonard Modise, Mosupiemang never looked back and has been on this journey ever since.
Moulded by the disciplined mentality of undoubtedly Botswana’s finest karateka in history, Ofentse Bakwadi, he is no stranger to hard work and dedication.
First, he got a surprise invitation to join the national team camp but was unfortunately dropped from the team.
“I enjoyed watching Bakwadi on television and I got my dreams come true when he came to me and said boy let’s work hard. You can still do it.
I rolled up my sleeves and trained extra hard, the rest, as they say, is history,” he quips.
This became a trait that took him all the way up the local karate scene.
Last year he became unstoppable, kicking everything that crossed his path.
During the senior national team selections, Mosupiemang shocked many when he came out tops ahead of the likes of under 75kg Kumite champion, Oratile Caiphus.
It always seemed an impossible target but he had a good plan, willingness in his heart that he could make it. And he made it.
His first competitive match in national team colours was the recent Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Karate championships where the final match squared him up against his fiercest rival Caiphus. When the final score was announced Caiphus had received a lot more damage and Mosupiemang crowned the regional champion.

Mosupiemang has a lot of respect for his other competitors such as Caiphus, Katlego Tsenene and Theetso Selaole.
He learns a lot from them. He also gets a lot of support from his family.
When on national duty he forms a formidable senior male team Kumite with the likes of Mpho Bosenakitso, Caiphus, Gabriel Ramasimong and Lemogang Koolopile.
The soft-spoken warrior has his eyes set on training hard and getting his second dan grade in the near future.
There are ten levels of black belt in total.
He will now spearhead his quest for continental glory when he takes part in the forthcoming Union of African Karate Federations senior tournament slated for the last weekend of August in Rwanda.  
The ambitious fighter is also yearning to emulate his mentor Bakwadi and fight for glory at World Karate Federation sanctioned tournaments like the Premier League 1. Bakwadi believes with such amazing determination and discipline there are prospects of Mosupiemang becoming a world champion. ENDS