The North-West University Vanderbijlpark karate team made a powerful statement ahead of the upcoming national championships after a dominant performance at a provincial tournament in Gauteng.
Competing at the Premier Full Contact Karate League Tournament at the Mandeville Sports Centre on May 9, the university’s athletes proved that their campus is fast becoming a major force in the sport.
Hosted by Kenshin Kan, the high-profile event drew top clubs and elite fighters from across the province. For the university team, led by Sensei David Mohapi and Sensei Manyathi Mkhombiseni, the competition served as a vital dress rehearsal for the 2026 University Sport South Africa (USSA) Karate Championships.
That tournament is scheduled to take place at the University of the Western Cape from June 26-29, right after the student examination period.
A squad of 19 student-athletes took part across the kata, clicker, and kumite categories, delivering excellent results despite facing ongoing difficulties with their training venues and preparation conditions.
The stand-out star of the day was Lungani ‘Ali’ Shusha, who secured an impressive hat-trick of gold medals. Shusha won the Men’s Advanced Kata, the Men’s U60kg Clicker division, and the Men’s U70 kg Kumite title, sealing his reputation as one of the region’s most formidable competitors.
The women’s squad also enjoyed massive success. Alwandle Shozi won both the Women’s Open Division Clicker and the Women’s Open Division Kumite. Palesa Makhafola added to the gold medal tally by winning the Women’s Intermediate Kata and the Women’s U55kg Kumite, while Nomandla Radebe and Angie Phakati also secured podium finishes.
Senior athletes also delivered strong performances. Phineas Matlhatsi won the Men’s U70kg Kumite alongside other medals, while Enoch Myeza won the Men’s Intermediate Kata, Men’s Own Kata, and Men’s U70kg Clicker divisions. Phumlani ‘Jojo Tank’ Jojo and Ntsako Chabalala also put in powerful performances, whilst newcomer Tshiamo Segobye showed great future potential in his first major tournament.
Joseph Matlhong praised the team’s achievement, calling the tournament a turning point in their preparation for the national championships.
“This tournament was a major highlight for the programme and clearly demonstrated the readiness, discipline, and commitment of both our athletes and coaches ahead of the USSA Championships. The performances showed the growth of the team, the fighting spirit of our students, and the hard work invested by the coaching staff throughout the season. Immediately after examinations, our focus shifts fully towards the USSA Championship at the University of the Western Cape, where we aim to represent the NWU with pride and compete at the highest level,” said Matlhong.
The team’s success highlights the rapid growth of karate as a dynamic sport at the Vanderbijlpark campus, built on a foundation of discipline, sacrifice, and hard work.
