Mogomotsi Moloi
4 April 2008
Gaborone — Botswana Kofukan Federation (BKF) will host the seventh national championship at the Botswana College of Agriculture (BCA) Hall in Sebele tomorrow.
The tournament is expected to attract karatekas from all karate styles. BKF spokesman, George Tshikare predicted a large turnout saying karatekas have been craving for action since the year started. "We are hoping for a large turn-out for these championships because of a number of reasons," he said.
Unlike in the past, there will be no club competitions. The tournament will be strictly for individuals in both senior and junior categories. Tshikare said the tournament gives karatekas a platform to impress national team tacticians for selection for the Zone VI championships in South Africa next month. BKF will use the all-styles championship to select those who will represent Botswana at the Kofukan International Championships, to be held in Durban, South Africa in August. Tomorrow's championship is expected to be very tough considering that most of the national champions will be participating.
The likes of Rafael Reid, Kutlwano Molefi, Oratile Caiphus, Ndiye Motswakae, and Bose Caiphus are set to give other karatekas a very tough competition. These are some of the athletes who have been outstanding in the previous year. Vicky Majama is another seasoned karateka to watch.
Tshikare indicated that from other disciplines like hayashi-Ha, they expect the likes of Khaya Groth and Christopher Ponatshego to give kofukan karatekas a run for their money. He added that there will be grading on Sunday for outstanding kofukan members conducted by kofukan chief instructor Sensei Million Masumbika and others.
He told Mmegi Sport that BKF will stage only three national tournaments this year after merging the two-mid-year club championships because the federation does not have enough funds. He lamented that they have failed to send athletes to London for the World Championships last month due to lack of money. He appealed to corporate sponsors to come to their rescue. He said the more the sponsors come on board the more the sport will grow.
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