BOKA to apologise over UFAK hosting error
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 16, 2018 12:36
This follows BNSC’s decision to reject BOKA’s proposal of hosting the championship next year. When rejecting the proposal, BNSC had cited that BOKA had not followed hosting policy.
The affiliates are expected to discuss the matter tomorrow during an Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) to be held at Big Five Lodge in Mogoditshane.
Former BOKA president, David Mathe told Mmegi Sport that they admit to have not followed procedure when submitting their proposal to the BNSC.
“BOKA is not about the president, but all of us. Now we have to find ways of salvaging the situation. We admit that we have not followed hosting policy requirements. We should agree as BOKA to go and apologise to BNSC. We must come up with a delegation to send there,” he said.
Mathe said there are many advantages to hosting UFAK. He said it would give BOKA an opportunity to field many athletes, which could have been impossible if it was held elsewhere.
“Tomorrow we expect the committee to give us clarity on the matter. But we have not met to discuss issues that would be on the agenda at the meeting. Normally people caucus before a meeting and that one kills us,” Mathe said.
Meanwhile, BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai said the OGM is a new arrangement and it is held six months after the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
He said the main purpose is to update affiliates with status of the association and projects undertaken.
“This include the Region 5 championship that we hosted and the Africa Karate Championship (UFAK) 2019. We would also discuss BOKA calendar of events for next year,” he said.
Bathai said the OGM would also discuss Project 1,000, BOKA headquarters development, land acquisitions, chief instructors development programme and high performance programme.
Shukokai Karate Union chief instructor, Socca Moruakgomo said he was still trying to communicate with BOKA office to get the agenda for the meeting.
“I am in the dark on the issues on the agenda. Even the venue, there were some rumours that it has been changed,” he said. Despite that, Moruakgomo said it was surprising that BOKA is talking about developing chief instructors. He wondered how that would be done because they have been doing karate all their lives. “We have been developing students all these years at our own expense.
“We have even developed dojos without BOKA assistance. Last time when I travelled to Europe for training, they bought me a ticket and the rest I had to cater for myself. Is that development they are talking about?” he asked.
Moruakgomo suggested that the association must come up with a different name for the programme.
BOKA public relations officer, Isaiah Ramontshonyana said they have distributed the invitation for the meeting including the agenda to all affiliates. He said it was disappointing to learn that chief instructors have not received the documents.