BOKA bids to host Africa championship

The Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) is in the running to host a continental championship in the next two years. BOKA who are continental and regional powerhouses recently expressed interest in hosting either the senior or junior Africa championships in a year or two.  The newly-elected BOKA executive committee led by Tshepo Bathai seems to be wasting no time in pulling affiliates together and contesting to host an international event.

BOKA has already received an invite from the Union of African Karate Federation (UAKF) Secretary General Emmanuel Wakam to host the upcoming African Karate Championship for 2018/2019 and 2020. The next hosts for both events will be announced during the UFAK 2017 congress in June in Cameroon. 

The invitations are for the African seniors and juniors for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 championships. The Botswana National Sports Commission chairman Solly Reikeletseng recently encouraged local associations to bid for regional, continental and international competitions whenever chances arise.

“As BOKA we are interested in bidding for one of the championships. We will, however be able to say which one after consulting our affiliates including the BNSC and other stakeholders,” said Bathai this past week. South Africa and Botswana are the only regional members to have hosted the competitions in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Currently the BOKA top brass is consulting stakeholders before putting together a comprehensive bid to the continental body. The bidding associations should have full support from their respective governments.

BOKA benefitted immensely from the 2014 Africa Youth Games hosted in Gaborone and the 2002 championship. The hosting country can field more athletes and officials during the competition and also enjoys opportunities to train local officials and improve local facilities.