06 Jun 2023

Some karate professionals have called for a well established karate centre in Maun for the promotion and development of the sport.

They opined that the facility would aid in unearthing untapped talent in the North West region.

Professionals expressed their view on random interviews during the Delta Open Karate Championship organised by the Maun based Delta Karate Academy.

The acting chief instructor from Botswana Kofukan Federation, Sensei Otto Tafa, said it was high time the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) considered establishing a centre in Maun.

The centre, he said, would also motivate the formation of more karate clubs.

Maun, he said, housed talented people as far as sports was concerned.

“This village deserves a karate centre, which will change the fortunes of the nation in sport.  The facility will help us to take sport to the people so that they appreciate that karate is a wonderful sport with many benefits,” he added.

Sensei Tafa further noted that the facility would also attract youngsters to take karate seriously and eventually produce quality players who would represent the country in big competitions.

However, he appreciated efforts by Delta Karate Club to organise the tournament in Maun saying it gave players exposure to enhance their skills and techniques.

The tournament, he said, was  previously held in Gaborone and Francistown, adding that it was pleasing to see a club in Maun playing a key role in development of the sport.

Most of the clubs participating in the tournament, he said, had players in the national teams both junior and senior of which some would be representing the country at the Region 5 Championship.

The event also brought together professional instructors and referees such as BOKA chief referee, Boston Ramakgampu.

“We believe that next year the tournament will attract more clubs and become better and bigger in the long run,” he added.

Sensei Godiraone Phuduhudu of SSKB Karate Club concurred that Maun deserved something better in terms of sport infrastructure.

The association, he said, needed to focus on establishing a karate centre that he said would bring more competition, produce champions and take karate sport to greater heights.

Sensei Phuduhudu said the centre would also promote sport tourism in the region as it would excite more players to participate in karate and win medals.

He also appreciated the tournament hosted by Delta Club saying it was a good start for the club.

The tournament director, Calvin Thuthuka, who is also an instructor at Delta Academy appreciated clubs that participated in the tournament.

He said the tournament also aimed to develop youngsters from grass-root level so that they grow and participate in other elite competitions.

Instructor Thuthuka said they they intended to host the tournament annually so that players could learn new techniques from their counterparts and sharpen their skills.

Thuthuka appealed to the business community to come on board and support the tournament so that they could have incentives in monetary prizes next year.

The tournament was open to athletes aged 5-7 years, under 10 and 12-18 years.

The winners walked away with medals. ENDS