Uproar over karate team manager

The appointment of Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) secretary-general, Karabo Samuel as team manager has ruffled feathers within the sport. Treasurer, Kutlwano Mukokomani has been appointed to deputise Samuel, but BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai stands accused of making an arbitrary appointment, excluding other executive committee members.

The appointment comes at a time when the national team has just been assembled and training will be held at the BOKA training hall tomorrow.

The team manager position has always brought friction within karate as the position is viewed as lucrative as the person travels with the team abroad.

The manager’s term is for a year. “We learnt about the appointment through social media. How can he appoint without at least informing us if that is the procedure,” a source said. But Bathai said it was not necessary for him to respond to the complaint.

“For the first time, I am not going to answer that one. Round up all members of the executive committee members and get back to me. No one was against the appointment, ” he said.

Bathai said the executive committee appoints team managers. Samuel said he was unaware some people were unhappy with his appointment. “Of course when the issue came up in a meeting, I was not aware it would be concluded with me being given the position. The matter was discussed in a meeting during which I was present. So at the end of that, I knew of the agreement,” Samuel said.

He said the appointment means karate leadership has trust in him and they see and believe in his capabilities. He added that the opportunity means he would contribute more to karate and widen his experience. Samuel said the selection panel has been assembled to assess the applications of coaches and are expected to give their recommendat i o n s to the executive committee soon. The team’s coach is yet to be appointed.