THABANG REGOENG
The Botswana Karate Team has won a staggering 65 medals at the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region V championships staged in Maputo, Mozambique this past weekend.
Botswana finished first ahead of South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola winning 41 gold medals, 13 silver and 11 bronze medals. Led by National team coach Otto Tafa, the 40 man team contingent yet again surpassed the mandated 30 medal tally which had been set by BOKA officials.
Reigning UFAK individual mens individual kata gold medalist Ofentse Bakwadi scooped his third successive individual gold medal in the mens kata while Lame Hetanang also followed her recent impressive performance with a gold in the ladies kata and the under 50kg kumite. In other results SSKB karate club prodigy Thabang Setshego won 3 gold medals one of those in the mens under 60 kg category.The women Kumite team which was dropped for the UFAK championships also won gold to solidy Botswana’s first position.
In an interview with Gazette Sport BOKA President Tshepo Bathai lauded Tafa’s troops despite sending a small number of athletes to the championships compared to other countries.
“We brought only 40 athletes,South Africa had 75 athletes,Namibia 60,Mozambique as the host country had 85,Zimbabwe came with 45 while Angola and Zambia only brought a few. The team was fairly okay with good competitors so we are more than happy with the outcome of the results.