BOKA REAPPOINTS NATIONAL COACHES
spokesperson, Isaiah Ramontshonyana said the involvement of the national team coach in the final selection is crucial as they might be able to spot athletes who might be a good addition to the national team, even though they might not have finished in first place during the recent karate selection. Furthermore, Ramontshonyana explained that Ponatshego has already met with the national team this past weekend but the final selection of the team will be made after the coaches meet with the BOKA Vice President Technical.
Unlike other sporting codes that are emerging from the Covid-19 sports ban with thirst for local competition, the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) is expected to compete abroad upon their return to action. According to Ramontshonyana, BOKA has already selected a national team that is expected to compete at the karate World Cup from 16 to 21st November in Dubai, UAE. The next month, BOKA will be expected to close the year with a bang as they will send the national team to the Karate
Africa Cup in Cairo, Egypt from 3rd to 5th December.
Ramontshonyana said the association is doing things differently this time because of the COVID -19 pandemic. Instead of holding three legged tournaments across the country and choosing the cream that has risen to the top, Ramontshonyana said they have asked their respective affiliate clubs to hold selection tournaments and send the best athletes to the BOKA to determine the national team.
Ramontshonyana further explained that some categories may require more athletes in the national team as a pool of more talented athletes might be coming from there. Furthermore, the BOKA spokesperson said they were wary of the fact that some of the clubs had a bigger pool of athletes than others.
“You may be aware that categories like U67 kg have a lot of talent and athletes who have finished in second position might still be an important addition to the national team,” Ramontshonyana said. Meanwhile, the national team has been under the watchful eye of the BOKA Sports Development Officer, China Metswi, while the association was still in the process of appointing a national team coach.