The tournament was the first leg for the senior national team selection that will compete at the upcoming 2025 Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games taking place in Windhoek, Namibia from July 4-13. BOKA vice president-technical, Union Kgafela, told SportMonitor that the tournament went according to plan despite athletes' arriving late. He said due to the challenges they are going through with some federations not attending the tournament, only 77 athletes competed for various categories against the 98 athletes from last year for the senior team selection. “It is a good number, officiating was spot on. I did not receive any complaints. There was improvement in terms of athletes performances, most of them were competing in the senior category for the first time after graduating from Under-21. They gave the experienced athletes tough competition. We are preparing for different competitions such as AUSC Region 5, 2025 UFAK Karate Championships that will take place in Abuja, Nigeria in August 25-27 and the 2025 World Karate Championships. The world championships are tough because you have to go through qualification to reach that stage. One has to do well at UFAK first, and that is when we can think about them. Currently the only athlete in the world rankings is Lethabo Sekano, she is in the top 100,” he said.
Kgafela said last weekend they hosted the junior team first leg and the final selection is set for February 22 while the senior team final selection will follow in March. He explained that it will be the first time karate will be competing in AUSC Region 5 Games together with Special Olympics and Table Tennis. Meanwhile, Charlene Magalie from SSKB Champions karate club, who competed for the women’s kata and Under-55 kg kumite won a bronze medal in individual kata, a silver in kumite and a gold in team kata. She said her performance was not what she had planned for and she needs to go back and correct her mistakes. “It is good results but I believe I can do better. My plan this year is to qualify for upcoming tournaments; the goal is to participate in them. My category is difficult because it is full of talented athletes, but if I put my mind into it, I can make it,” Magane said.
Quinton Mosupiemang was hit by a surprise when he lost a fight against Prince Ngwako, who recently graduated to senior category. The two were battling out for the men’s Under-75 kg kumite. He told SportMonitor that the fight did not go according to plan but that is not the end of his career. Mosupiemang redeemed himself with a win in the second fight and also picked a gold medal in team kumite. “My plan was to come here, execute what I trained for but it did not work out. I really cannot tell you what happened. My advice to Ngwako is that he should continue working hard and remain grounded. I do not feel bad because it does not mean I will always get what I want. I just have to go back, work hard and prepare for the next tournament. Remember, this is the first tournament of the year. My plan moving forward is to make it into the national team, then make it into UFAK finals,” he said.
Kata results: Men individual kata: 1) James Daniel (Soukus club), 2: Martin Matseke (SSKB Champions karate club), 3: Setso Sebina (SSKB Champions karate club). Women individual kata: 1: Centy Kgosikoma (Thebephatswa karate academy), 2: Lame Hetanang (Gaborone karate club), 3: Lesego Masimola (SSKB Champions karate club), 4: Charlene Magalie (SSKB Champions karate club). Women team kata: 1) SSKB Champions karate club. 2: Souks karate club.
