Local karate team rises to occasion at tournament
The team won seven gold medals, five silvers and five bronzes.
The Kofukan Karate Club attended the Johannesburg Regional karate trials on October 1 in Midrand.
The tournament comprised two components – elite and development – with most of Kofukan’s athletes participating in the elite component and only a few in the development component.
The Johannesburg Karate Federation stage this tournament annually in October to select a team for Johannesburg to represent the region in the Gauteng Provincial Karate Championships in February.
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“This has become a norm for our club to participate in this event. We entered 11 elite athletes and they all performed exceptionally well.
“The Maduna twin sisters, Karabo and Karabelo, opened the tourney on a high.
“Karabo scooped a bronze medal in her highly contested kata division.
“She wrapped up the event by winning a gold medal in her kumite division. Sister Karabelo also won a gold medal in her kumite division.
“The eldest Maduna brother, Katlego, also rose to the occasion. This boy is becoming a superstar.
“He has competed in the development divisions for the past few years,” said sensei Thabo Molubi of the Kofukan Karate Club.
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He added that this year Katlego started competing in elite divisions and is already making his presence felt.
“Katlego won a silver medal for kata and later scooped another silver for kumite in his division. Aidin Wylbacht also rose to the occasion for the team, scooping a gold medal for kata and another for kumite.
“Serole Rangongo is one of our rising superstars who performed exceptionally well in his kumite division.
“Serole won a gold medal for his kumite division and was followed by Holla Rangongo, who also scooped gold in her kumite division.
“Mia du Preez won a bronze medal in her kata division, and Keagan Burger wrapped it nicely with a bronze in his kata division.
“All the elite athletes we entered placed and will represent Johannesburg in the province.
“Our development rising superstar, Ongezile Moseta, performed exceptionally well in his division. He has been training with us since the beginning of the year and already has shown potential to become a Protea athlete in the future.
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“He dominated his kata division, won a gold medal and later finished second in his kumite division, winning a silver medal.
“Reinhart Goosen also rose to the occasion and won a silver medal in his kata division. He finished his kumite division by scooping a bronze medal.
“Our last development athlete was Marcus Erasmus, who performed well by winning a gold medal in his kumite division.
“He also won bronze in his kata division. These are excellent results from all my athletes who participated in the Johannesburg Regional Karate Trials.”
The team won seven gold medals, five silvers and five bronzes.
“This is a testimony that hard work pays off. We had a fantastic year and this was the cherry on top. Enrollments are still open for all those interested in joining our team. Interested parties can call me on 079 921 3600,” said Molubi.
