Close battles expected at BOKA awards
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday December 1, 2017 12:24
The categories likely to attract more attention are the senior male karateka, senior female karateka, coach and federation of the year awards. The senior male karateka of the year pits Ofentse Bakwadi, Oratile Caiphus and Lemogang Koolopile. The rivalry between Bakwadi and Caiphus is well known. The two were at loggerheads when BOKA was supposed to submit its candidate for the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) awards. Caiphus lost out to Bakwadi although he felt that he deserved to be the nominee. Koolopile is seen as a potential party spoiler. He said nomination along Caiphus and Bakwadi alone, was a big achievement.
“This is the best feeling ever. I do not know how to explain it. Those two are no doubt the best in the country and being nominated in the same category with them is a motivation. It is an indication that my hardwork is being recognised. This is the best thing to happen to me in my karate life this year,” said an excited Koolopile. Lame Hetanang goes head-to- head with Merylin Manthe for the senior female karateka of the year award. Hetanang had a good year winning a kata gold medal at the Zone VI tournament while Manthe also scooped gold for kumite at the same competition.
Otto Tafa will battle it out against Christopher Ponatshego and Otsile Motsamai for coach of the year award. Tafa was in charge of the men’s Under-39s teams that brought gold medals from the Africa Championships and Zone VI tournament. He stands a good chance of snatching the award. Hayashi-Ha, Kofukan and JKA are up for federation of the year award. The procedure is that the performance of a federation is considered across all facets and the performance of national teams alone is not sufficient to win the gong. A federation should have carried out its mandate such as hosting events and international competitions for federations. The junior male karateka of the year sees big guns, Thabang Setshego, Tlotlang Ponatshego and Thebe Duna go head-to- head. The battle is expected to be between Setshego and Ponatshego. Other nominations:
Administrator of the year: Lere Basupang, Mpule Mogorosi and Keorapetse Dube
Referee of the year: Lucas Rakgamou, Mompati Kwati and Mpho Bakwadi Junior female karateka of the year: Thabang Maleke, Lente Tanyala and Oampata Gakemokgothu Karate Service awards:
Platinum award: 60 years in karate, 50 years of administration and 7th Dan Gold award: 50 years in karate, 40 years of administration and 6th Dan Silver award: 40 years in karate, 30 years of administration and 5th Dan Bronze award: 30 years in karate, 20 years of administration and 4th Dan