Botswana tops region in Africa karate event

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Tuesday August 10, 2010 00:00

 

Botswana missed a top five finish after winning three bronze medals in the male team kumite, female team kata and Under-60kg individual kata through Ofentse 'Shakes' Bakwadi. Botswana coach, Mpho Bakwadi has described the performance 'as exceptional'. South Africa was the only other Zone VI country to win medals - two bronze.Egypt were crowned champions, followed by Algeria and Tunisia. 

Bakwadi told Mmegi Sport that they performed well considering the little time they had to prepare for the tournament. 'The athletes only had a week to prepare as a team, but they were able to perform better than most countries including fancied ones such as Ivory Coast,' he said.

He added that Botswana needs international exposure in order to compete effectively against established countries such as Egypt and Algeria. 'There is a World Championship in Serbia next month but we are not yet sure if we are going to participate because of lack of funds,' he said. Bakwadi stated that failure to participate at such tournaments affects the team's performance. 'If we could get sponsors to help the national team get enough international exposure, then we would surely become continental or even world champions,' he said.

Bakwadi's assistant, Otto Tafa said North African teams have proved to be their toughest opponents. 'Most of these countries have better training facilities and they have more exposure to competitions in Europe,' he added.

Tafa said a new squad will be assembled for the 2011 All-African Games in Mozambique in September. He said that excelling karatekas such as Vicky Majama should be retained in the squad. 'Some of these athletes had to be left out of the tournament this year due to some problems beyond their control,' he said.

Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) secretary general, Ezekiel Seru said the country has a better chance of doing well at the 2011 All-African Games. He said the karatekas will be facing the same countries they competed against at the weekend which should give them the opportunity to rectify their mistakes. 'We have now identified their strengths and weaknesses which gives us a better chance of winning,' he said.  In Cape Town, Botswana karatekas, Kaene Kago, Oratile Caiphus and Thato Malunga reached the semis.

The Africa Karate Championships squad: (Women) Goitseone Mongologa, Thato Malunga, Bathami Ikhutseng, Malebogo Robert and Thandie Molapong.

(Men) Ofentse Bakwadi, Kevin Groth Moses Jones, Tebogo Molapong, Oratile Caiphus, Kaene Kago, Kabelo Molefe, China Metswi and Emmanuel Mosate. (Coach) Mpho Bakwadi and Otto Tafa (assistant coach).