27 May 2025

Botswana is scheduled to host the Japan Karate Association (JKA) Africa Cup in 2031.

The tournament will be hosted by Angola in 2028, followed by Botswana in 2031. Speaking in an interview on Sunday upon return from a week-long participation at the JKA Africa Cup in South Africa, Sensei Dr Keone Kgorotlhe, said preparations were underway for Botswana to host the JKA Africa Cup in 2031. He said Botswana’s participation in Johannesburg was used as a litmus test and benchmarking purposes to gain all necessary skills for hosting other countries.

Sensei Kgorotlhe said a team of 30 young Nihon Karate Kyokai-Botswana members affiliated to JKA World Wide, participated in the just ended JKA Africa Cup where the team successfully brought home nine medals after competing against 13 countries. Team Botswana attained bronze position, followed by team Kenya on a silver position while South Africa attained a gold position overall.

Under the Kumite category for boys aged between 8-9, yellow belt Kgosi Lekhutile attained a silver medal. Another yellow belt youngster, Haqodesh Mogaladi attained a bronze medal behind South Africa and Madagascar. Under the Kumite category for bots aged 12-14, orange belt Marcus Mahloane attained a bronze medal behind South Africa and Kenya. Orange belt Enele Mmereki won gold while brown and black belt, Yaone Kgorotlhe got a silver medal.

Under the Kumite category 16-17 years boys, Orange belt, Lefika Moilwa attained a sparkling gold medal and a shining bronze medal competing under the Kata category while Pako Obatleng attained a bronze medal under the Kumite category. In the male veterans category aged 40-49, black belt Sensei Keone Kgorotlhe won silver. Medal winners in the tournament, he said would progress to participate at the Indo-Pacific JKA Cup in Mauritius in September 2026. ENDS