A group of 20 karatekas did not have transit visas, but other members of the travelling squad including Ofentse Bakwadi, Oratile Caiphus, Boemo Ramasimong (karatekas), Christopher Ponatshego (coach) and China Metswi (team manager) did not face any hiccup as they had a different arrangement.
When preparations for the Commonwealth Games started, the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) announced that it was financially crippled to fund the trip. Those who were interested in travelling were issued support letters by BOKA to enable them to seek individual sponsorship.
Upon securing a funder, the funds were to be deposited into the BOKA account. BOKA was to pay for accommodation and buy tickets on behalf of the athletes. “The association wanted to take responsibility in case of any emergency. It seems like some did not want to follow that arrangement. They felt BOKA would take the money and they arranged their own trips on the side.
Now things did not go according to plan and they want to turn around and blame BOKA,” a source said. After securing the funds, athletes booked tickets online. Since the group had to transit through countries such as Switzerland, a transit visa was needed.
Parents also bought a second set of tickets from Johannesburg through Dubai. Flights were fully booked and the other three athletes bought tickets to connect in Namibia and upon arrival, transit visas were requested. The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) had to intervene after the matter was reported to them. The team finally arrived in Birmingham on Tuesday and the weigh-in was on Wednesday.
BOKA president, Tshepo Bathai was accused of booking 51 rooms for the team at the championship accommodation at a total cost of P263,000. “He did not cancel the booking even when he knew Botswana was not bringing 51 people.
He booked himself an executive suite at a five-star HQ hotel costing about P10,000,” a source said. It was further revealed that Bathai was given up to yesterday (Thursday), to pay. But Bathai dismissed the claims as false.
He produced proof of payment, which showed that he had paid P32,348.04 to the English Karate Federation. “Those allegations are false and that hotel is P1,200 and it is located in the University of Birmingham and it is where all Commonwealth Karate Federation executive is staying. I am not travelling to Birmingham,” Bathai said. He confirmed that all athletes have arrived and waiting to compete. He said weigh-in has been done and they are fully accredited. The individual competition was held on Wednesday and Thursday.
The club championship, which is an open event, started today (Friday) and ends on Sunday. BNSC CEO, Tuelo Serufho is disappointed about the turn of events. “We are disappointed that BOKA failed to make proper arrangements for their athletes and in the process caused them great inconvenience and distress,” he said. Serufho said these are the type of issues that tarnish the image of sport and BNSC is dealing with them, with a view to ensure curbing a recurrence in the future.
Despite the challenges the team has already recorded some successes in Birmingham. Kagiso Mophuting won a gold medal in the Under-21 kata on Wednesday, while the male kata team bagged a bronze.
