Clash of events exposes karate cracks
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 26, 2026 10:54
Whilst the inaugural BDF Open Karate Championship was ongoing at the UB Indoor Sport Arena, another tournament, 'Ngwana wa Mo Africa', was taking place in Lobatse. Despite attempts by Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Commander, General Mpho Mophuting's efforts to bring peace within karate, there is still a long, rough road ahead.
The BDF Open Karate Championship saw 636 karatekas take part, whilst Ngwana wa Mo Africa, organised by Nihon Karate Kyokai-Botswana, attracted 300 registrations.
The clash of events will continue on July 4 when the Gabs Open is held at the UB Indoor Sport Arena, whilst another competition takes place in Ramotswa, organised by Kofukan Federation. Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) president, Shihan Mpho Bakwadi, said the clash of events does not divide karate. He explained that BOKA operates within its own recognised structure, calendar and membership. “Those who organise events outside BOKA are not our members, and their activities are independent from the association. It is difficult to compare the two because they do not operate under the same structure or mandate,” he said.
“It is like comparing a governed Premier League with a Sunday football tournament. Both may be involved in the same sport, but they are completely different in terms of governance, standards, and responsibility.” Bakwadi said BOKA remains committed to unity, development, and creating opportunities for athletes through a structured karate system.
But Nihon acting chief instructor, Sensei Keone Kgorotlhe, highlighted that peace and unity within karate cannot be achieved under the current circumstances.
He said even next year, his tournament will still be held on the same date as the BDF Open Championship, and the setup will continue to tear karate apart.
Kgorotlhe explained that Ngwana wa Mo Africa is an established tournament with participants from South Africa, and they expect more countries in the region to attend the 2027 event.
“We have long applied for BOKA membership like other karate styles, such as Kanazawa Shotokan Karate-Do International Botswana and Nihon Shito Ryu Kenwa Kai International Botswana, amongst others. “Unfortunately, we have not been accepted. Despite being outcasts, there were some bona fide members of BOKA who attended our event last year. It is also strange how things are being done, BOKA is refusing to grant us membership, but they allow our students to attend national team selection,” he said. Kgorotlhe argued that even if a federation is not a BOKA member, it should not be sabotaged when they host a tournament, and it is the duty of the association to develop karate. He said the number of athletes who participate in Ngwana wa Mo Africa should be a concern to BOKA. For his part, Kanazawa Shotokan Karate-Do International Botswana chief instructor, Shihan Steady Basupang, confirmed that they have applied for BOKA membership. Meanwhile, the organiser of the Ramotswa tournament, Sensei Boston Rakgampu, said he has decided to put his event on hold due to circumstances beyond his control.
He explained that there is nothing more painful than hosting an event and making a loss. As a non-BOKA member, Rakgampu said there is a need to engage with each other with calm heads. “We are one people, we believe in one thing. It is better to fight from within, not from outside. Let us come together for the sake of karate, our athletes are struggling out there,” he added.