30 Aug 2018

Africa kata champion Ofentse Bakwadi is expected to lead a blend of young blood and experienced karatekas to the Rwandan capital, Kigali for the 17th African seniors karate championships, which start August 31 until September 2.

Speaking on the sidelines of an intensive training bout at the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) dojo this week, Bakwadi said he expected tough opposition from his competitors who would be looking to dethrone him of the gold medal he won last year in Cameroon.

He expressed confidence despite a seemingly tough tournament especially from the North African opponents who have been closely monitoring his exploits in the World Karate Federation League One.

Bakwadi leads a promising team to the state-of-the-art Intare conference arena in Rusororo, just outside Kigali.

He is expected to form a deadly combination in the senior male team kata with Thebe Duna and Tlotlang Ponatshego.

He is also taking part in the male individual kata and expected to replicate the form that saw him clinch bronze in Cape Town in 2010, silver in Morocco in 2012 and defend the gold he won last year.

Bakwadi and his team should expect tough matches from the likes of Egyptian Ahmed Shawky and South African Michael Duplesis.

The women’s national team most decorated karateka Thato Malunga cannot wait for the tournament to start.

Her hunger is buoyed by fact that she missed last year’s Yaoundé tournament and is highly charged to get top honours.

Malunga will participate in the ladies team kumite and individual kumite.

She will be joined by two promising young talents in the mold of Entle Maungwa and Centy Kgosikoma.

The two young ladies have been in fine form and were quickly included in the senior team graduating from the cadet cadre recently.

As much as Malunga appreciates the inclusion of new blood in the ladies team she would dearly miss the deadly blend of veteran teammates Tsholofelo Maduma and Lame Hetanang.

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 her mettle after coming out tops in the recent past national selections beating the likes of Maduma.

The rest of the team includes the likes of Caiphus brothers Bose and Oratile, who are also medal prospects in the elite kumite divisions.

Region 5 karate champion and local kumite sensation, Quinton Mosupiemang is also expected to excel in the under 75kg kumite.

Former Africa Youth Games champion, Thabang Setshego is expected to join his teammate from his Asian base.  

Other interesting karatekas to watch are Lemogang Keolopile and Katlego Tsenene.

Tunisia are current champions having topped medal standings in Yaounde ahead of Egypt and the hosts Cameroon who came in second and third respectively.

Botswana missed the 2014 edition in Senegal due to administrative hiccups.

BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai heads the Rwandan delegation while the team is under the guidance of sensei Peter Molefhe. ENDS