The MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr Dan Kgothule, would like to congratulate the eight Free State Karate (8) athletes that were part of the SA Karate Team that competed at the Africa Karate Championships on 30 to 31 August 2013 in Tunisia for their exceptional performances.
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 such as the 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.
The current Karate athletes who participated in the Africa Karate Championships on 30 to 31 August 2013 also made the province and the country proud with yet another excellent performance. They were responsible for 6 (six) of team SA’s 15 medals in total.
The SA Team won one (1) gold, one (1) silver and 13 bronze medals with the Free State athletes contributing one (1) silver and five (5) bronze medals.
The athletes selected for the SA team were:
- 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 were part of a team of three (3) coaches that led 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 consisted of 27 athletes and three (3) coaches. “We are delighted at this yet another good performance by our athletes on a continental stage. With this kind of performances on various sporting codes, including particularly those that are on the margins, we do not have any doubt that we are set on a correct trajectory in as far as sport development is concerned in our province,” stated Mr Kgothule.
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola, Communication and IT Manager
E-mail: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
Tel: 051 410 4742 /4786/4719/3513
Erika Calitz Manager, Chief Development Officer
Cell: 082 940 239/ 060 501 6951
E-mail: erika@sacr.fs.gov.za
