Kicks continue to fly at troubled karate
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday October 21, 2023 06:00
He is also demanding payment of his outstanding allowance. During the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), BOKA president, Mpho Bakwadi informed the delegates that Goju-Karate Federation ceased to be a member due to non-compliance with the constitution, specifically failure to pay annual affiliation fees. Ponatshego slapped BOKA with two demand letters this week, which gave BOKA a time frame of seven working days.
“Following a shocking communication to expel us, we write this letter demanding you to reinstate the Goju-Kai Karate Federation with immediate effect because we already have an affiliation fee with BOKA. We are of the view that you acted out of ignorance towards reaching such a reckless decision. We have grossly suffered from this action,” Ponatshego said in the first letter.
He argued through the letter that Kofukan, International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Botswana and BSSU had benefited from the same arrangement hence there is no reason Goju should be victimised. Ponatshego said the agreement between BOKA and Goju as per a confirmation letter dated March 29, 2022, is legally binding and the BOKA executive committee is in breach of the contract.
The letter, signed by former BOKA president, Tshepho Bathai, states that there was an agreement that Goju’s three consecutive annual subscriptions (2022 to 2025) will be deducted from funds owed to Ponatshego.
The letter further said the arrangement is done on the premises of the precedence done for other federations such as Kofukan, ISKF Botswana and BSSU. “With this submission hereof, we demand yourselves to reinstate Goju-Kai Karate Federation within a period of seven days, failure to which we shall be left with no other option except to approach the court for redress,” Ponatshego said. He stated that he was simply writing the letter to the executive committee not necessarily that he recognises them, but because they are in office. Ponatshego was appointed senior national team head coach from March 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019.
The position attracted an allowance of P2,000 per month. “I write this letter demanding yourselves to pay my remaining balance amounting to P14,000 within 14 days. The total, which is owed to myself was P20,000 for the services I rendered as the BOKA national team head coach. BOKA as an institution has already agreed to deduct the other P6,000 towards paying my Federation annual affiliation fees for the period between 2022 to 2025. With this submission, I demand yourselves to pay myself the balance failure which I shall approach the court,” Ponatshego said in the second letter to the BOKA president. Meanwhile, Bakwadi confirmed receiving the two letters from Ponatshego.
“The letters took me by surprise but he has the right to do what he wants. All along he has been saying that he does not recognise us as the executive committee, but now here we are, and he has turned around and called us the executive committee. Like I said the last time, it is time for karate to find peace. We cannot continue fighting amongst ourselves,” Bakwadi said. He said the demands made by Ponatshego will be discussed by the executive committee to map the way forward.