Karatekas clinch victory at tournament
KwaThema Shotokan Dojo Club juniors are on a mission to take all medals from every competition they enter.
KwaThema – John Cindi, shihan of the KwaThema Shotokan Dojo club, and his junior karatekas stand head and shoulders above the rest.
The club has been receiving honours at every competition.
In early September the juniors took part in the World Karate Federation International Tournament at the Portuguese Hall in Turffontein.
“We took ten children and we brought home 9 medals – they always make me proud,” explains Cindi.
The group then travelled to Port Elizabeth last Saturday to compete in another tournament which was organised to celebrate his 48 years in development karate.
“I single-handedly started with developments in Port Elizabeth and now they can compete with my Gauteng students,” says Cindi.
Mhlonishwa Madonsela achieved second place in both komite and kata, while Mbali Motha walked away with first place in komite and second in kata even though the standard of the competition was very high and there were about 200 contestants.
Thami Banzi won first place in kata and Siphesethu Ndlovu took second place in komite in their different age groups.
“The trophies used in the tournament in Port Elizabeth were donated by Sipho and Dinah Nkosi.
“We are very grateful for that,” says Cindi.
He adds that his hope is that parents will prioritise their children’s participation and that the whole community will rally around them.
“I still believe that there is a lot of talent around us – that is why I want to inspire them to participate,” he says.
Cindi can be contacted on 073 212 9444.
