Coach frustrated as kata team misses tourney
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 23, 2017 14:36
National team coach, Sensei Otto Tafa had expected to take the team to Maputo, but has been left disappointed.
He told Mmegi Sport before departure for Maputo that he had expected the team to continue its good run.
“This is painful to me as a coach. I had expected the team to travel together for the championships. We did not agree in some areas with other stakeholders and that led to the team being dismantled. We are also not going to have a women’s team in Mozambique,” Tafa said.
He explained that team kata comprised members of the junior and senior teams and now the karatekas have reverted to their respective categories. Tafa said he had tried to resolve the matter but failed. His expectation was to continue with the team until Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. He said the team already has an upper hand in Africa and they have accumulated some points. He said missing out on Region V gives other teams a chance to catch up.
Meanwhile, Tafa is leading the team into the Maputo competition with high expectations. He has been to the competition on many occasions, since 2000 as a player coach.
“My plan was to travel with the same kumite team that competed at UFAK. We had five athletes and one of them got injured during the course of the competition. But we are now ready for Region V and we have worked on the mistakes,” he said.
He added that they have beefed up the men’s senior team with Mogakolodi Mothale. Tafa said the women’s kumite team that was dropped during UFAK has been brought together and they will compete this weekend.
He said it has not been possible for him to obtain last year’s results to enable him to access the karatekas’ previous performances. He has been left to rely on the capabilities on the individual karatekas.
“We have an athlete such as Mpho Bosenakitso. He easily puts himself under pressure, but if given direction, he fights properly and can win you a fight,” he said.
Tafa said the women’s team is responding well with medals expected from the likes of Tsholofelo Maduma, Merylin Manthe and the new senior team member, Oampata Gakemokgothu.
Botswana has set a target of 30 medals out of the 40 athletes who would be competing. Six coaches (two for infants, two for Under 21 and two for senior national team), six referees and four managers have been deployed to Maputo.
Meanwhile, Sensei Million Maswimbika is unopposed for the position of Region V president. The region holds an elective general meeting this evening.