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INTRODUCTION
This report seeks to provide a snapshot of the Commonwealth Karate Federation meeting, the tournament and the discipline of THE OFFICIALS OF Team SA.
COMMONWEALTH KARATE FEDERATION COUNCIL MEETING
The General Secretary Elias Jacobs was mandated to attend the Commonwealth Karate Federation (CKF) Council meeting that was held on 30 May 2008 in Edinburgh, Scotland. As head of delegation I was asked to do all official duties on behalf of South Africa.
The meeting was a success and South Africa was welcomed with open arms by all countries present. The trip to Scotland cemented the relationship between South Africa and the other Commonwealth countries.
It is the first time that South Africa attended the CKF Council meeting. Elias Jacobs was mandated to represent South Africa at the Council meeting. Soon Pretorius, Selwyn Rhoda and Ivan Eber also attended the meeting.
All members received a copy of the minutes of the previous CKF Council meeting that was held at the Barcelo Eresin Hotel in Turkey on 19th October 2007. Billy Brennan of England chaired the meeting. I’ve noticed that a copy of the minutes was forwarded to Soon Pretorius on 13th May 2008. According the minutes the following countries attended the meeting:
Australia Botswana Canada England Fiji Malaysia New Zealand Northern Ireland India Scotland
The CKF Chairperson Billy Brennan informed the meeting that it is the 4th CKF Championships that will held in Edinburgh with Terry Connell of Scotland as the host. He said that 1350 individuals and 124 teams will participate in the CKF championship 31 May and 1 June 2008.
We informed the meeting that South Africa brought a 200 strong contingent, which includes 98 juniors and Cadets with 47 seniors.
The meeting welcomed Team SA and they were very impressed with the total size of our team.
The Chairperson informed the meeting that the following countries will participate in the CKF Championship;
Ireland England South Africa Canada Botswana Scotland India Ghana Wales New Zealand
COMMONWEALTH KARATE FEDERATION EXECUTIVE STRUCTURE
A vote of confidence was expressed in the interim leadership and it was proposed and accepted that they become the permanent structure.
The President of the All India Karate Federation Karate Thiagarajan and the President of Karate South Africa Leon Beech were elected as Vice Presidents of CKF. Soon Pretorius was co-opted as an additional member.
The President of CKF, Billy Brennan requested that the executive must work together to make a success of the federation.
The names of the full executive will be forwarded to the KSA General Secretary.
CKF - FUTURE PLANS
Billy Brennan said the purpose of CKF is to get karate into the Commonwealth Games. He said that the Executive will use this championship as a reference when they meet with the leadership of the Commonwealth Games.
CKF will be another level for our athletes to compete and to prepare them for the WKF tournaments.
Our Table officials and Referees will have an opportunity to qualify for CKF status.
CKF - FUTURE TOURNAMENTS
WKF tournament will held in November 2008 in Japan. The next CKF Championship will take place in Chennai, India in the last week in June 2009. The Commonwealth Games will be held in India in February 2010. The following CKF Championship will take place in Canada 2011.
TEAM SA RESULTS
Team SA represented South Africa with honour and I was very proud to be part of the team.
The team won the following medals:
12 Gold medals 15 Silver medals 47 Bronze medals
OBSERVATIONS
Only two Referees accompanied Team SA. At a meeting prior to the tournament it was suggested that Elias Jacobs officiate as a referee.
The Head Coach, after an argument with Soon Pretorius, decided to leave the team on 31 May 2008. Some of the arguments happened in the presence of some athletes which was unacceptable. On the Sunday the arguments amongst the coaches continued. Not all the coaches pulled their weight over the two days; the reason could be that they had to finance the trip themselves.
Team SA should travel as one team.
CONCLUSION
KSA had successes and challenges as per this report. However, the situation will change for the better with the establishing of the commissions.
Elias Jacobs
KSA - General Secretary
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