The Botswana All Budo Styles Association (BABUSA) continues to strive to be recognised by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). However, the elephant in the room has been identified as the Botswana Karate Association (BOKA).

Speaking during an awards ceremony held in Phakalane over the weekend, BABUSA chairperson, Shihan Thuto Thuto said the days of being bullied by BOKA are over. He also said the most important thing is for marshal artists to unite.

“We have reached a stage where it is no longer about karate. Why can’t we have Taekwando, Judo, Wushu or Fencing under one roof? Why are we fighting each other? We should be all rounded because you have kids who want to do martial arts not just karate.

Kids should be given an opportunity to be rounded martial artists. In BABUSA that is what we do,” he said. Thuso said when they applied for BNSC affiliation, they had a clause that spoke of inclusivity and the BNSC encouraged them to go back and negotiate with other sport codes that are into martial arts.

The emotional Thuto said not being recognised by the BNSC is a disadvantage because BABUSA members are not getting financial support. He said that is a shame because as Batswana they deserve to be assisted just like other athletes from other sporting codes.

Thuto stated that they held meetings with other codes but BOKA did not attend the meetings. He said they have started fresh negotiations with the BOKA interim committee president, Mpho Bakwadi.

BABUSA became a registered entity in 2016 and they were given an opportunity to host their first tournament same year. Thuto said this year they travelled to Windhoek, Namibia where they brought 24 medals. “When we came back from Windhoek there was no welcome party waiting for us because nobody knows us. Tow weeks ago we went to South Africa and won 23 medals with 14 gold medals. The

Chinese martial arts went to South Africa and did very well,” he said.

BABUSA vice president, Grandmaster Edward Scott said the cosmology and the integration of martial arts in Botswana is a new concept but new in terms of implementation, which is what BABUSA is all about. “For a long time BOKA has been the governing body of martial arts in the country. However, BOKA only recognises two styles of karate but we all know that there are many types of martial arts. There was a need not only to unify martial arts but for someone to be the voice of the voiceless,” he said.

Scott said BABUSA has 10 affiliates from different systems and they deal with the system of the country of origin.

For her part, Mascom Chief Technology Officer, Lilly Sulluvan said the athletes are putting in the time and hard work to be the best. She said sport is very important in child development and martial arts also instill discipline. Sulluvan pledged to sponsor three students next year for international trips.