Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) has appointed national team coaches to lead both its junior and senior teams.
The coaches were announced this past Wednesday following a long selection process by the BOKA National Executive Committee on Wednesday.
Senseis Peter Molefe and Keone Kgorotlhe have been appointed senior national team coaches while Senseis George Tshikare and Goitseone Mongologa will take charge of the junior teams.
For Molefe and Kgorotlhe, the appointment is an elevation from their previous status. The two were national team assistant coaches this past year.
For Tshikare, the appointment means a return to the national setup after many years while Mongologa, who is the only woman coach in the national setup is being retained.
The four coaches, who were selected from six applicants, will be expected to lead the national teams over a period of three years, which will take their mandate beyond the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Speaking in an interview BOKA Public Relations Office Isaiah Ramontshonyana said the four coaches were selected based on merit.
He said all the appointed individuals met the criteria to be selected as coaches because of their experience with the association.
“Selection was based on the credibility of the individual and how they have been conducting themselves during BOKA and the federation tournaments. I have confidence on the coaches and we will offer all the support we can,” Ramontshonyana explained.
It is said that the four coaches will be expected to officially start their duties on the 3rd of February 2018 when BOKA will be having its national team selections.
Ramontshonyana further said that the coaches will be governed by policies that have been put into place to guide them. He said the individuals will also be supervised for conduct by the Vice President Technical throughout the year to ensure a smooth flow of events.
For his part the BOKA president Tshepho Bathai said he is happy with the appointments. He indicated that all the appointees were the best the association had and possessed a wealth of experience.
“The BOKA executive selected them looking at the work that is before the association this year,” he explained.
According to the BOKA president, the four coaches will lead Botswana Karate as it tries to navigate what may be a crucial year for karate.
“We are hosting the Southern Africa Karate Championship on May, have to compete at the Africa cup in Rwanda, the Youth Africa Games in Algeria, the World Cup in Spain and our athletes also need to qualify for youth Olympics to be held this year in Argentina and above all, qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” he explained.
