Super Spartans win at Nationals
Fighters from the Spartans Karate Club from Carletonville excels.
Two fighters of the Spartans Karate Dojo attended the South African National Championships in Cape Town.
The event happened at Sunningdale Sports Complex over the weekend of 1 March.
“The competition was stiff, especially as it was away in Cape Town, and we had to battle against their home advantage.
“The dojo’s members formed part of the Gauteng provincial team and represented the province. They earned their provincial colours, which are recognised by the Gauteng sports council.
“The athletes performed extremely well, bringing back three individual medals and one medal from the team event,” says the club’s communication officer, Martin Venter.
Samantha Maré competed in under 68 kg female kumite (fighting) category, where she scooped the bronze medal.
Juan-Drè Loots competed in the under 75 kg male kumite, all weights kumite and team kumite events.
Loots held the club’s name high when he won a silver and two bronze medals.
Sensei Enzo Pillay, the instructor of Spartans Karate, is a provincial coach and represented the province at the event. Gauteng Karate managed to place an excellent second place in the country and only just missed out on top honours to the home team of the Western Cape.
The competition is the toughest of the year with the best six competitors from each province taking part.
“Spartans Karate managed to improve its best ever Nationals performance from last year and now aims to go even one better at the junior nationals too,” says Venter.
