By Tuulikki Abraham
LÜDERITZ – The Lüderitz Karate-Zen Club successfully hosted its inaugural edition of the National Karate-Zen Championship in the town recently, where other karate clubs from the //Karas Region also participated for the first time.
Although clubs from different towns in //Karas took part in the event, none of the invited clubs from Windhoek were present.
Chairperson of the Karate-Zen Lüderitz Club, Emilia Amupewa, had this to say: “Even though some of the invited clubs from towns such as Windhoek could not manage to make it to the competition, their absence did not stop the organizers from putting up a great championship.” Karate -Zen was previously only practised in three regions in the country, namely Khomas, Oshana and Zambezi, until 2008 when Sensei Bonnie Kabozu was sent to //Karas Region to develop the sport in towns like Rosh Pinah, Noordoewer and Lüderitz. Since then the Karate-Zen Lüderitz Club has enjoyed a very good turn up of students, with their parents playing their part by channeling funds for the club’s daily activities.
Namdeb has been the driving force behind the sport and recently sponsored the club with N$45 000 for the purchase of various equipment.
But besides Namdeb, companies such as B & E International and Novanam, as well as the !Nami#Nus Regional Council, Lüderitz Town Council and the Else family are some of the other sponsors.
The club previously also managed to dispatch a large contingent of students to compete in various international competitions in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Zambia
“The Karate-Zen Lüderitz Club would like to encourage the youth and parents to motivate their children to join the sport of karate, as the sport teaches children to have discipline and respect, and also equips them in self-defence,” said Amupewa.