Motswagole: Small in stature, big on ambition
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday September 28, 2026 06:00
Over the weekend at Al-Nur School in Gaborone, the pint-sized karateka stood tall amongst 231 athletes at the Botswana Shito Ryu Federation’s annual Open Karate Championship, dominating the female -55kg category.
It was another statement of intent from an athlete whose rapid rise has already taken her onto the continental stage.
Motswagole recently announced herself at the 2026 Union of African Karate Federations (UFAK) Championships, where she won a bronze medal in the female -50kg kumite.
Her medal was Botswana’s only podium finish at the continental championships, an achievement that has given the young karateka even greater belief in her ability.
Born in Francistown, Motswagole never imagined that watching a friend train in karate would eventually lead her to representing Botswana on the international stage.
“I became interested in it and decided to try it. I also wished to go on trips like her. Louis Katlo Chengeta is the one who recruited me and introduced me to karate.
“I remember this other time after school, I was preparing to go home, and he was going for training and invited me to come along. That was the beginning of everything. It was a fantastic feeling to try something new, something I never imagined myself doing,” says the athlete.
Her journey, however, was not born out of a lifelong obsession with karate. Motswagole had initially been drawn to netball, a sport she had played for some time. But when she relocated to Kasane in September 2021, her options changed and karate became the sport that was available to her.
She joined Soukouss Karate Club in Kasane, which practised the Japan Karate Association (JKA) style, and quickly found herself on a new path.
Her first taste of competitive karate came at the TAB Open Championship at Thebephatshwa in November 2023, where she finished second.
“In the beginning I wanted to play netball since I had played it for some time, but I had to quit when I relocated to Kasane in September 2021. Karate was the only sport available,” adds Motswagole.
What started almost by circumstance soon became a serious pursuit.
Motswagole made her national team debut whilst she was a Form Four student at Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School, where she was part of the School of Excellence programme. The occasion brought a mixture of nerves and excitement.
“I was terrified because at that time I did not know much about karate. But at the same time I was excited because I had a chance to represent my nation,” she recalls.
Her time at Mogoditshane also helped her form friendships that she believes strengthened her development as an athlete. Alongside Prince Ngwako and team captain Lethabo Sekano, she describes the group as a close-knit karate family.
“Ngwako is talented, and he takes the sport seriously. At first I did not pay attention to Sekano, but later on I realised her hunger,” says the martial artist. Today, Motswagole is a member of Pro Fitness Club under chief instructor Sensei Union Kgafela and is coached by Keosaletse ‘Docta’ Koolopilwe.
Her progression has been rapid, but the UFAK Championships provided perhaps her biggest test yet.
Motswagole describes the experience as 'epic' and one she will cherish for the rest of her life. More importantly, the bronze medal confirmed to her that she belongs among Africa’s best young karatekas.
“I was surprised by my performance, but I was motivated because I had told myself that I was going there to win a UFAK medal.
“That would enable me to compete at the World Games and share the ring with my role model, Yorgelis Salazar. Unfortunately, the 2026 World Games are team events,” she says.
Salazar, a Venezuelan karateka, won silver in the women’s 50kg event at the 2022 World Games and remains one of Motswagole’s biggest inspirations.
But beyond the medals and international ambitions, Motswagole says UFAK taught her an important lesson about self-belief.
“The most important lesson I learnt from UFAK is that one should not belittle themselves because of their background,” she says.
Her ambitions are now firmly set on the future. Motswagole dreams of standing on the podium at the next World Games, but she knows that reaching that level requires sacrifice both inside and outside the dojo.
Among her biggest challenges are equipment and transport.
“Equipment is expensive and, as an athlete, it is important to have a lot of equipment for training and competition. I stay far from my training facility, so transport is costly. My family supports me, but sometimes they have their own priorities,” she bemoans.
Despite those challenges, she remains grateful for the support she receives from home.
“I cannot complain much because they give me everything; mentally, physically and financially. I am where I am because of them and, mostly, because of God,” she says.
Along the way, Motswagole has also benefited from people who recognised her potential before she fully understood it herself. She recalls her former coach in Kasane telling her that she was a special child who could go far in the sport.
“My former coach in Kasane long picked up that I am a special child and I will go far in this sport,” she says proudly.
Kgafela, her current chief instructor, has also been impressed by her attitude as much as her ability.
He describes Motswagole as a hard worker who remains down to earth and does not allow her talent to get to her head.
“She joined our club after completing her Form Five in 2024. She was nominated for the Botswana Sport Awards in 2025. She has also been awarded the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) Elite Scholarship and will be travelling to Australia to study next year,” Kgafela says.
For Motswagole, the journey from a young girl who followed a friend to karate practice to a continental medallist is only the beginning.
The medals have started to arrive. The international experience is growing. And with a scholarship, a supportive family, and a growing belief in her own ability, the teenager from Francistown is already looking beyond the next competition.
Her stature may be small, but her ambitions are anything but.
FACT FILE
Full names: Lesika Motswagole Date of birth: March 25, 2007 Place of birth: Francistown Profession: Athlete Club: Pro Fitness Hand: Right-handed Hobbies: Singing, dancing and watching sport in general Pre-match ritual: Prayer and listening to gospel music Favourite meal: Pap and phane