Twelve Karateka hopefuls from King Karate Club in King William’s Town are heading off to Ireland to compete at the World Union Karate Federation (WUKF), World Karate Championships.
The champs will be held in Dublin from June 17-19 and the young budding talents will leave from the East London airport on Sunday.
Jordan Galli, Oneliswe Fani, Elario Newton, Yanela Frans, Ricky Rossouw, Kamva Xanywa, Charmorne Theron, Akho Maceba, Danielle Anthony, Anthony Swartbooi, Ethan de Bruin and Xanti Xanywa will all be representing the South African Shotokan Karate-do Academy (Saska) at what will be the sixth edition of the world championships, and will be going all out to get a medal.
“I am so very proud of them. They have done so well and they deserve to be going,” said King Karate Club Sensei Bert Ulay.
They were selected for the Saska team for the world champs after competing well at the Saska nationals.
This will be the third time that karatekas from the club have competed overseas, with a group having gone to Scotland, then Poland last year and now Ireland.
“This is the third year that we have some of our students going and is double what went to Poland last year,” said Ulay.
“So there are some new faces who will be enjoying this experience for the first time, while others have been before and they will know what to expect.”
King Karate Club was only established in 2001, starting off with just nine students.
The club has grown over the years and has now grown to be one of the biggest karate clubs in the Eastern Cape, with over 160 karatekas.
“The club encourages young children to join this sporting discipline, not only to provide self-defence training sessions, but also in an effort to eliminate young individuals participating in drugs and other negative street activities within the community,” said Ulay.
All of the karatekas at the club will be wishing their fellow pupils well and waiting to hear how they do at the champs.
“Everyone is so excited,” said Ulay, who expresses the high hopes they have.
World crown beckons for the fiery kids
The champs will be held in Dublin from June 17-19 and the young budding talents will leave from the East London airport on Sunday.
Jordan Galli, Oneliswe Fani, Elario Newton, Yanela Frans, Ricky Rossouw, Kamva Xanywa, Charmorne Theron, Akho Maceba, Danielle Anthony, Anthony Swartbooi, Ethan de Bruin and Xanti Xanywa will all be representing the South African Shotokan Karate-do Academy (Saska) at what will be the sixth edition of the world championships, and will be going all out to get a medal.
“I am so very proud of them. They have done so well and they deserve to be going,” said King Karate Club Sensei Bert Ulay.
They were selected for the Saska team for the world champs after competing well at the Saska nationals.
This will be the third time that karatekas from the club have competed overseas, with a group having gone to Scotland, then Poland last year and now Ireland.
“This is the third year that we have some of our students going and is double what went to Poland last year,” said Ulay.
“So there are some new faces who will be enjoying this experience for the first time, while others have been before and they will know what to expect.”
King Karate Club was only established in 2001, starting off with just nine students.
The club has grown over the years and has now grown to be one of the biggest karate clubs in the Eastern Cape, with over 160 karatekas.
“The club encourages young children to join this sporting discipline, not only to provide self-defence training sessions, but also in an effort to eliminate young individuals participating in drugs and other negative street activities within the community,” said Ulay.
All of the karatekas at the club will be wishing their fellow pupils well and waiting to hear how they do at the champs.
“Everyone is so excited,” said Ulay, who expresses the high hopes they have.
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