BOKA gets a boss lady

Sensei Eileen Alberts may just be what the doctor has ordered for the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) female athletes.

Currently the high achieving Alberts is the only and first female Chief Instructor in Botswana. BOKA appointed the high-flying Alberts recently at their watershed Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held in Palapye. Speaking to The Midweek Sun this week, Alberts said she is proud to be the Chief instructor of International Shokotan Karate Foundation, an international karate organisation affiliated to BOKA.

As the only female Chief Instructor, Alberts said it is now up to her to ensure that she mothers all female karatekas in Botswana.“I will like to ensure, that as a lady in BOKA, I get more women involved in Karate at national, continental and international level.  Owing to the fact that Karate is seen as a “Man’s” sport, I will like to assist BOKA in recruiting women so that Botswana can field a strong women team in the coming international events,” she said.

Alberts knows that it will not be easy to achieve all her plans in a short time and conceded that she will be seeking assistance from her male counterparts. “ Talk about pressure, there is plenty of that at the moment. Many eyes will be on me, especially from the female side because the hope is that I will assist women and ensure that they are given an opportunity to represent the country internationally,” she said. Albert said there is urgent need to increase the number of females in male dominated roles such as coaching and the referee’s panel.

She noted that it makes her happy to see more women trying to take up karate, adding that there is hope for the girl child in karate. For his part, BOKA spokesperson Isaiah Ramontshonyana said the appointment of Alberts comes at the right time when the Association is trying to empower women. He explained that they have full confidence in her as an instructor, “When we visited her dojo we learned that she is hands on, her federation has been attending trainings in South Africa and they also attend local tournaments,” Ramontshonyane said. Going into the future, Ramontshonyane said inspiration should be drawn from Alberts that women are capable of taking up leading roles in male dominated sporting codes.