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Report of the 2008 World Kumite Championships held in Pattaya, Thailand on August 29-30
Hoosain Narker, the Full Contact convenor for KSA, who was attending the tournament in his capacity as an Associate Member of the WKO, was mandated by the President of KSA to view the feasibility of the event as KSA is considering supporting this event by sending a National Protea Full Contact team to future events. According to Narker who was elected onto the WKO Executive, this event is certainly a spectacular event to support and it’s Executive comprise of many senior karateka from most of the major Full Contact styles.
Speech by the President of the WKO with Senior Shihan in black and Referee’s in Red.
Report of the Benin Tournament and UFAK Meeting by
KSA President Leon Beech
It is really hard work in Benin in order to re-establish the credibility of Karate South Africa amongst the other African countries Because of the mistakes of the past. It is very evident that many countries have not forgotten the experience of the past few years and possibly view us with suspicion. The only countries from Zone Six who are present there are SA, Botswana and Mozambique. There are 22 countries present and Messrs Antonio Espinos (President of WKF) and George Yerolimpos (General Secretary of WKF) are also here and attended the UFAK Executive Meetings and the Extra Ordinary General Congress which took place last night. Our effort paid off with the UFAK Congress affording KSA the opportunity to host the UFAK Senior Championships in Cape Town in August 2010. Lots of hard work required but with all your expertise we can prove our capability to host such a spectacular event.
The following schedule was accepted:
2009 Junior and Cadets Alexandria, Egypt 2010 Seniors Cape Town, South Africa 2011 Junior and Cadets Morocco 2012 Seniors Algiers, Algeria
The draft Statutes was accepted with further opportunities to comment on the content, in order to improve the document. Similarly, a draft financial policy and organisational document was approved, with the opportunity, to refine the document in the future. Unfortunately, the language barrier between English and French speaking countries remain a challenge. Up north, French dominates and we consistently have to remind them to translate in order for us to understand. Antonio Espinos reported that significant progress was being made in getting karate into the Olympic Games in 2016. Apparently the decision will be made at an IOC meeting to be held in South Africa during this year. He requested KSA's support in this regard. Unfortunately they were not able to complete their NEC meetings by last night and resumed early this morning.
We await their response to our members to serve on the UFAK Commissions. The WKF donated four full tatamis to the host country (Benin) karate federation and also send two experts (referees) and (coaching) to offer courses during the programme. Our team arrived safely last night and we all successfully registered this morning. They went to the weigh-in and everybody met their weight requirement. I was privileged to have a meeting with the team this morning and encouraged them as ambassadors of South Africa to do their best and to make us proud. I also had a formal meeting with the Presidents of Botswana and Mozambique and they pledged support for KSA to host the Zone Six Karate Championships in Pretoria on 25 October 2008 and for us to have a meeting to encourage the other countries to support Zone Six. The weather is extremely humid and we were fortunate to get some rain today. The traffic is exceptionally hectic in that their major public transport is motor cycles. Not sure if there are any traffic rules because everybody just does what they like. Everybody is very friendly and thus far our very has been very pleasant.
The latest from Benin:
Three medals in first day. The competition is really tough, specifically in the kumite. Congratulations to:
Coral Jacobs - Silver in KATA Brian Dukas - Bronze in KATA Morgan Moss - Silver in KUMITE
Following appointments by the UFAK Executive Committee to be confirmed in writing:
Selwyn Rhoda - appointed to UFAK Referees Commission Peter Brandon - appointed as Chairperson of UFAK Technical Commission Sanette Smit - appointed to UFAK Gender Commission Soon Pretorius - awaiting outcome of nomination to serve on UFAK Organising Commission Leon Beech - appointed onto UFAK Executive Committee as the representative for Zone Six
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