Local karate team takes over national champions
The much anticipated national championships saw six athletes in total from the Diepkloof Dojo qualifying to take part.

The Kofukan South Africa Karate team travelled to KwaZulu Natal over the weekend to attend the Karate South Africa Children, Cadets and Junior National Championships held at the Tongaat Sport Centre.
The much anticipated national championships saw six athletes in total from the Diepkloof Dojo qualifying to take part.
Sensei Thabo Molubi of the Kofukan South Africa Karate team said the tournament started with a bang on Friday with teams from all nine provinces present to showcase their talents.
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“This was the first national championship to have close to 500 entries in terms of participants. As anticipated, the Maduna twin sisters, Karabo and Karabelo made history for the Diepkloof Dojo.
“They both took part in a massive kata division that had athletes from all nine provinces. Unfortunately Karabo was eliminated in the round stages but the sister Karabelo fought until the end,” Molubi said.

He added that Karabelo finished third in the kata division and scooped a national elite bronze medal.
“This is something we have never achieved as a dojo in the national elite level. The two twin sisters later in the day took part in their respective kumite divisions and they were on fire.
“Karabo eliminated all her opponents in her division and came first clinching a national elite gold medal.
“Karabelo followed suit as well on her kumite division and never disappointed. She wiped all her opponents on her division and came first clinching another Gold medal for the team.”
The team managed to register four medals from the tournament. The atmosphere was electric; the hall was packed with athletes and spectators from across South Africa.
“My golden boy who is slowly climbing the ladder of success in his karate career, Serole Rangongo took part in a massive kumite division that had close to 30 participants and he surely did not disappoint us,” added Sensei Molubi.
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Rangongo fought to eliminate a lot of his opponents on his kumite division and finished third, scooping a national elite bronze medal.
“This is history in the making for our club. In total our athletes won two gold medals and two bronze medals on a much fierce contested national championships.
“Overall, I am really proud of all our athletes, whether we won or lost. Just making it to the nationals is a huge achievement.
“This shows that our team is a force to be reckoned with in developing karate in Soweto and it also creates opportunities as well as exposure for our athletes.”
Those who are interested in joining the dynamic team can reach out to Molubi on 079 921 3600.