The Botswana Karate Association (BOKA) executive committee has been accused of violating the constitution when appointing national team coaches without following proper channels.

BOKA recently appointed China Metswi, Ofentse Bakwadi, Bose Caiphus, Martha Chilume, Kealeboga Madisa and Peter Molefhe as part of the technical team for the national side.

However, there has been an uproar, with concerns over due process not being followed.

“There should be an advertisement for positions. The technical and coaches commissions should be in place to make recommendations to the executive committee.

The executive cannot appoint coaches without the coach’s commission,” a source said.

According to the BOKA constitution, the technical committee shall consist of five members who are Third Dan and above.

The constitution states that there should be a coach’s commission. One of the major roles of the coach’s commission is to recommend to the BOKA executive committee the appointment of a national coach.

BOKA public relations officer, Keorapetse Dube told Mmegi Sport the constitution empowers the executive committee to appoint commissions except the appeals committee. He said they had to prioritise the appointment of coaches looking at the time and resources they had.

“For the technical and coach’s commissions to be in place we need running capital, which remains a challenge,” he said. Dube said they have not appointed commissions due to lack of resources and they are still putting their office in order. He said they have to make decisions and resolutions to keep the association running.

“Even if it means amending the constitution to make the development plan easier, we will report to the Annual General Meeting at a later stage. We have not received any queries. The buck stops with us,” Dube said.

Meanwhile, the coaches defended their appointments. Under-21 assistant coach, Madisa said his appointment is an indication that he has been doing something right.

“I have been a coach at club level and it is my first time to take up a role in the national team,” he said.

When asked to react to critics who feel that he is not suitable for the position, Madisa said people never stop talking but the fact is that he has produced some athletes who are dominating the national team.

Madisa said he does not have a problem with what people say about him.

Another appointee, Caiphus remains unmoved by the backlash. Caiphus is said to have no international experience, only having competed in local competitions.

“Those people are just bitter or they do not know karate. I have competed in all Zone VI championships and I won gold medals except in 2019.

Some of these people have only honoured fixtures without winning, hence the noise they are making. Do not let them confuse you,” he said.

Caiphus said he holds a UFAK qualification unlike others holding national or regional qualifications.

Under-21 assistant coach, Chilume said her appointment means a lot because it is an indication that women are growing in the sport.

“I am aged 25, so looking at my age and coaching the national is a huge motivation for me and other young women out there,” she said.

When asked about her career, Chilume said she could have done better but she had to relocate from Francistown to Maun due to work issues.

“I had no one to train me; I had to open a club rather than leave karate.

That is when I started coaching, attended coaching lessons and left being an athlete,” Chilume said.

The overseer of the team is Peter Molefhe while the senior team coaches are Bakwadi and Metswi.

The other Under-21 coach is Khaya Groth.