One of Botswana’s most accomplished and recognised karatekas, Ofentse ‘Shaykex’ Bakwadi, has retired from competitive sport.
The athlete made the announcement on his Facebook page this past Monday. His retirement marks an end of what has been one of the most glittering careers in the tatami mat.
While he was ‘coerced to join Karate’ by his brother Shihan Mpho Bakwadi, the younger Bakwadi took to the sport like fish to the water. Growing up with a brother who was once a karate world champion in Shihan Bakwadi, Shaykex never let his older sibling’s achievements weigh him down.
A consummate professional and a disciplined Karateka, Shaykex carved his own path to become one of Botswana’s finest athletes. His charisma and finesse on and off the tatami mat made him one of the most recognisable faces in the martial world.
He is a multiple Botswana karate kata national champion, having won the accolade more than ten consecutive times. This also earned him Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) sportsman of the year awards in 2012 and 2017 respectively. He is also a four times BNSC Sports Person of The Year award nominee.
Internationally, his achievements have also been impressive. He is currently Africa’s first black Kata champion after winning gold in the category at UFAK Africa championships. He is also a multiple medallist at the Zone level.
At the height of his career, Shaykex was once ranked in the top four in Kata in the world. He would however drop outside the top ten (10) later on, something which robbed him of a chance to compete at the Tokyo Olympics.
In terms of national team call ups and duty, he has earned his stripes. He has represented the country with distinction at all levels, from junior to senior national teams.
Announcing his retirement, the athlete confessed it was difficult to bow out of the sport. “I never thought it would be this difficult, after all it’s just a sport. Nope, it’s not just a sport, it’s been my way of life. I was like a minister of death praying for war. I wanted to compete every week and at some point felt it like an addiction. An awesome addiction I must mention,” he wrote.
Bakwadi went on to say, “I adhered to the highest standards of Discipline and sacrificed a lot of time to serve my country. If given a fresh life I wouldn’t change a thing.”
While he bows out, the athlete will however not be lost to the sport. He already has his own academy and he will be seeking to impart his knowledge on the upcoming Karatekas, who he hopes to transform into world beaters.
