- Won his first African Championships medal when he scooped silver in the U-75kg kumite category in Senegal four years ago
- Coaches Tshikare and Metswi passed pre-tourney courses to become certified kumite and kata coaches
GAZETTE REPORTER
Karateka of Botswana Karate Association’s (BOKA) Senior National Team, Gofaone Quinton Mosupiemang, won his second Africa Championships medal following his exceptional performance at the UFAK Karate Championships held in Durban, South Africa over the weekend.
The championships brought karatekas from across the continent against one another in senior, junior, cadet kata and kumite categories.
Slow start
Team Botswana comprised of five men, Mosupiemang (75kg), Oratile Caiphus (84kg), Gabriel Ramasimong (67kg), Kagiso Mophuting (kata), Omaatla Motlhale (60kg) while the women’s team was headlined by Lame Hetanang (50kg, kata), Lethabo Sekano (61kg) and Onkemetse Chepete (55kg) under Sensei George Tshikare and Sensie China Metswi.
Botswana’s slow start was revived by Mosupiemang who managed only one medal, a silver, after he finished second in the men’s under 75 kg kumite against his Moroccan opponent in the finals.
In a post-match interview with Gazette Sports, Mosupiemang attributed his stellar performance to persistence and hard work in training prior to the championships. “It has been a very difficult journey in my quest to win another medal at these championships and I am happy that it bore results.
Tough championships
“These championships are tough because they are for top karatekas in Africa. Most of my opponents were from Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt where karate is very advanced. I had to be very strategic in all of my matches, thanks to the skills and encouragement from my mentor, Sensei Ofentse Bakwadi.
“I have been going to continental and international competitions but could not win any medals. Even so, that did not discourage me in any way because I knew that I would conquer one day.”
Mosupiemang won his first African Championships medal when he scooped silver in the under 75kg kumite category in Senegal four years ago. He told Gazette Sports that his focus will be on winning his first international medal at the upcoming competitions next year.
“I am working hard to accumulate points that can allow me to compete in the karate premier league next year so I can improve my rankings prior to the world championships,” he explained.
“I am also focusing on winning an international medal in order to advance my profile. I have failed to win at the Commonwealth and the World Championships before but I think I’ll be up to the challenge next year.”
Meanwhile coaches Tshikare and Metswi are certified kumite and kata coaches after passing their UFAK coaching courses that were held in Durban prior to the championships.
They join the ranks of other coaches like Christopher Ponatshego, Otto Tafa, Keone Kgorotlhe and Shihan Mpho Bakwadi who hold the same qualifications