Eight (8) athletes from the Free State have been included in the SA Karate team that will compete at the Africa Karate Championships on 30 to 31 August 2006 in Tunisia.
These athletes are products of the Department’s Free State Karate High Performance Centre (KHPC) which is located at the Free State Sport Science Institute (FSSSI). The Free State Karate High Performance programme started with a pilot phase in September 2012. Since its launch the programme has produced outstanding athletes who have performed exceptionally well on the international stage.
The KHPC has already produced 16 elite karate athletes who took part in the Africa zone 6 championships that was held in Namibia from 28 to 29 June 2013. They secured five (5) gold, four (4) silver and three (3) bronze individual medals, topped off by 6 gold team medals at this June event.
The entire South African (SA) senior male team won a gold medal in this June tournament, and out of the seven (7) players in this SA team five (5) were Free State athletes.
These athletes again have an opportunity to represent the province and the country well on the continental stage of the Africa Karate Championships scheduled for 30 to 31 August 2013, in Tunisia.
The athletes selected for the SA team are:
- Wim Boshof
- Elvis Tshaka
- Kosie Kritzinger
- Adam John Boshoff
- Diana Welmans
- Danie Schutte
- Luther van Zyl
- Bridget Lourens.
The Free State Karate High Performance Centre coaches, Mr. Ian le Roux and Mr. Nechodemus Banyane, have been appointed as part of a team of three (3) coaches to lead the SA team, a sign of confidence in the Free State. Head coach Ian le Roux and four (4) athletes, Wim Boshoff, Elvis Tshaka, Danie Schutte and Kosie Kritzinger have also been invited to train with three (3) times
Karate world champion, Haldun Alagas, in Istanbul and participate from 6 to 8 September 2013 in the Istanbul open karate championships.
The SA team consists of 27 athletes and three (3) coaches.
“The Free State continues to create waves in the sporting arena on a global stage. The high performance centres for karate, Badmington, netball and boxing are also proving to be a worthwhile investment. We wish these athletes the best in these championships and we know that they will continue to make us proud stated Mr Dan Kgothule, MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Enquiries:
Erika Calitz
Manager: Chief Development Officer
Cell: 060 501 6951
Tel: 051 407 3513
Email: erika@sacr.fs.gov.za
