Delta Karate Academy will on 25 April, host its flagship event, welcoming a massive field of competitors ranging from four-year-old beginners to seasoned advanced athletes. The tournament will feature both individual and team categories in Kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring).
The championship has drawn a diverse roster from every corner of the country. Among the clubs confirmed to participate are Kagiso, City Active, SSKB, Valley, Orapa, Thebephatshwa, EagleClaw, Jwaneng, Nayoth, Tutume, and Ghanzi. They are joined by the K.O.M. Team, Revive, Palapye, Thebe, Oodi, and institutional powerhouses from the Police, Prisons, UB, and BUAN. The host, Delta Karate Academy, will field a dedicated squad of 15 athletes, including 10 boys and five girls.
For Academy Instructor Calvin Thuthuka, the event is a strategic move to decentralise the sport. The primary objective is to catalyse growth and awareness within the North West Region, providing a platform for local talent to be recognised on a national scale.
“This competition plays a vital role in nurturing talent and creating opportunities for athletes to compete at a higher level,” Thuthuka said.
To heighten the competition, the academy has put significant stakes on the mat. Winners in the individual senior male and female Kumite categories will walk away with P1,000 each, while the winning senior Kumite teams will pocket P2,000.
However, the road to the tournament has been paved with financial hurdles. Thuthuka revealed that while the academy is working tirelessly on fundraising, corporate support in Maun has been difficult to secure.
“Unfortunately, securing sponsorship in Maun has been very challenging, as many companies are either unfamiliar with karate or have not been willing to support,” he explained.
Currently, only 20% of the tournament costs are covered. While Cresta Maun has stepped up as a primary partner by providing the venue, the academy is making an urgent appeal to local businesses and individuals to support the event and the community’s young athletes.
The Maun event follows a surge in national karate momentum. At the recent Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) National Championships in Gaborone—which served as a selection event for the national team—SSKB Karate Club was crowned overall winners. They were followed by Thebephatshwa in second and Pro Fitness in third.
As the spotlight shifts from the capital to the tourism hub of Maun, the Delta Open represents the next major proving ground for Botswana’s rising karate stars.
