Rivals lock horns at karate team selection
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday February 17, 2017 10:39
BOKA is gearing up for the AUSC Region Five championship scheduled for Mozambique in June.
The seniors selection follows last weekend’s junior selection. The senior selection has been divided into three series involving the first, second rounds and the finals. BOKA public relations officer, Sensei Jerry Ditlhong said the series will take place on different dates and venues. The second leg will be held in Mahalapye on March 3, with the finals in Gaborone on March 17.
Other styles that are expected to send representatives are JKA Botswana, Goju Kai, Shito-Ryu Mabuni, Shito-Ryu Shuko-Kai, Ryushin-kan and Karate Nomichi. “All athletes participating in the qualifiers would earn points and the top performer in each category would be crowned national champion. The champion would qualify to be part of the national team that would represent Botswana at the regional and then continental championships to be held in Mozambique and Cameroon respectively in May and June,” he said.
Karatekas would compete in individual kata and kumite in both males and females.
Tsholofelo Maduma and Thato Malunga are expected to compete after being on the sidelines since last year. Maduma was injured during a competition in February 2016. She told Mmegi Sport this week that she is ready for the weekend action.
Maduma said she has completely recovered from the injury. Malunga’s coach, Sensei George Tshikare said the athlete is in better health and is expected to be back to her old self during the first leg of the national team selection. Another karateka, Merrlyin Manthe said she is aware of what is at stake.
“I have not been training well due to work commitments. I would give my best but I am not fit. Despite that my target is to be part of the team that would represent Botswana at the Africa Karate Championship and hopefully Commonwealth Games,” she said.
For his part, Ofentse Bakwadi said he wants to claim his rightful place in the team. He said he would bring youngsters who would be part of the kata team. Bakwadi said youngsters should always be thrown into the deep end in order to grow because they are the future of the sport.