Hesborn Ouma Dondi who is coach of Mbita Karate Club in Homa Bay County is working hard to promote the sport in the expansive lake region.

He has just returned in the country after leading three other Kenyans to high-level shotokan karate training and grading course in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The course was conducted by seventh dan ranked karateka Edward Mtshal who is also regional director for South East Africa and Sub-Sahara.

Speaking to FeverPitch in Nairobi yesterday, Dondi said the tour of South Africa was important as they gained new skills they intend to cascade to upcoming exponents for the purpose of popularising the sport at grass roots.

“The objective of Mbita Karate Club is to promote traditional shotokan karate in Kenya as sporting discipline in particular among the youth in schools, colleges and communities,” he told FeverPitch in recent interview.

Latest skills

“As a club we’re doing everything possible to ensure our trainees get to understand about latest skills in karate and we can only achieve this by consistently registering our trainers in international upgrading courses,” he said.

“My wish is that we get support from well-wishers and attend such international forums to learn new syllabus about karate,” he said.

Accompanying Dondi to South Africa were Peter Njagi, James Otieno and Kimani.

They were sponsored by Nairobi Governorship aspirant Evans Kidero, Sam Wakianga of National Intelligence Service and politician Phares Ratego.

Dondi asked the Government to invest handsomely in martial arts because the sport has potential to win Kenya many medals in competitions like Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Unearthed talent

The trainer said Mbita Karate Club has unearthed a number of talents which could have gone unnoticed without such an institution in the region.

Dondi was a member of Armed Forces Club before he quit the ranks to start own training programme in Mbita four years ago.

Although the club is yet to produce world class exponents, Dondi is optimistic that with time he will provide players to national team.

“There is a lot of potential in Nyanza region in general and with financial support we’re capable of mentoring world-class players,” he said.

The trainer indicated that youths in the region are enthusiastic about the sport and they are eager to break through international ranks.

Meanwhile, the search for the body of slain University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott may take several more days, New Hampshire Associate Attorney General Jane Young said.

“We have not discussed an end date. We have discussed continuing this until we find her,” Young said at a Monday afternoon news conference.

Seth Mazzaglia, 29, of Dover, an actor and martial arts instructor, was ordered held without bail after police said he strangled and suffocated the 19-year-old Westborough woman.

Agencies