Plett’s ‘Italian Ninja’ to be honoured
Young karate ace Galliano Boni has become an ambassador for the area across the globe over the years and will be receiving recognition for his efforts this weekend when Bitou Mayor Dave Swart will hand over his Protea colours blazer to him.
The now 12-year-old Greenwood Bay learner started his illustrious martial arts career at the tender age of four when he first walked into a dojo. He immediately fell in love with the sport and as they say, the rest is history. Thanks to his dedication, the youngster now has more world titles than the number of years he has been alive.
Just recently Galliano finished the year representing South Africa with full Protea Colours and achieving two grand champion and five world titles, after scooping two silver and two bronze medals at the Goju Ryu World Championships in Foligno in September and 10 medals - eight of them gold
- at the Great Britain Open
Karate Championships in Birmingham, England.
These accomplishments were also fresh off his dominant performances in the United States in July at the Iska World Martial Arts Championships in Orlando, Florida, where he did what no other South African has ever done before - he won two grand champion trophies. Straight after this he went on to the WUFK World Championships in Fort Lauderdale where he won two world titles, in kata and kumite.
To celebrate his achievements, an event will be held in his honour at Enrico's Restaurant in Keurboomstrand on 12 November where Swart will present Galliano with his full Protea colours and blazer awarded for Sport Martial Arts.