Among the selected karatekas were twin sisters who are brown belt holders – Nthabiseng and Nthabeleng Tsotesti.
Both sisters have been doing well and have made AFCKO proud. In Umlazi, Nthabiseng finished third in the u-45kg category. For her efforts, she was awarded a trophy, while her sister received a certificate for participating and doing well in the tournament.
Sensei Thulane Sibisi, the founder and president of AFCO, said the twins started participating in karate at the tender age of eight.
“At that time they were under the guidance of sensei James Sithole who was the leader at Sijabulile Dojo in Kyokushinkan Karate,” said Sibisi.
Some of their achievements include taking part in a tournament staged in Cape Town in May where they were awarded brown belts. They are waiting to graduate to the black belt level.
Nthabiseng participated in the girls’ tournament in North West in 2017 u-45kg category. She got first place.
Nthabeleng took third place in the same tournament.
Nthabeleng received first place in the Len Burners Memorial Tournament in Bloemfontein in April with Nthabiseng earning the second spot after losing to her sister in the same tournament.
“With the high rate of children and women abuse in our communities, AFCKO team would like to encourage parents to allow girl-children to take part in the sport so that they will learn some self-defence skills,” said Sibisi.
Sibisi went on to thank the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality for supporting AFCKO programmes.
“We have dedicated students but sometimes they can’t afford to participate in sports because they are from disadvantaged families.”
