The second edition of the Sensei Mohamed Kaba Karate Championship was staged on Saturday at the Father Gough Sports Complex Basketball Lawn in Manjai Kunda.
The championship was organised by the Sensei Mohamed Kaba Karate Club, which operates under the Manjai Kunda Youth Development Association (MYDA).
The competition brought together seven karate clubs including the Sensei Mohamed Kara Karate Club, Wellingara Karate Club, C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club, Bundung Masanneh Karate Club, Ukbat Karate Club, Busumbala Karate Club and the Tallinding Islamic Karate Club.
The championship was played in four different categories: the Children under 18, competed in the form of a talent display; the Kata Open, competed in a male format; the 65KG Kumite category, also competed by males with 65KG; while the Kumite Open category, which also featured male competitors.
In the Children under 18 category, Mam Sheikh Jagne of C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club was named the winner, Ebrima Touray of Tallinding Islamic Karate Club took second position, while Rohey Sanneh of C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club finished third.
Pateh Jobe of Wellingara Karate Club emerged the winner in the Kata Open category; Morr Ceesay of C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club occupied second while Nfamara Ceesay of Ukbat Karate Club took third position.
Sheikh Ngum of C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club was declared the champion in the 65KG Kumite competition; Morr Ceesay of C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club took second, while Fafa Sillah finished third position.
In the Kumite Open competition, Morr Ceesay and Sheikh Ngum both from C.R.I. Bakau Karate Club were declared winner and runner up, while Momodou Jagne took third.
Sally Secka, a trainer at the Sensei Mohamed Kaba Karate Club in Manjai Kunda and also a member of the organisers, shortly after the competition, said the event was organised in honour of their trainer who introduced karate in The Gambia.
She added that their master would have loved to attend the competition but could not due to illness.
She also said she was really impressed with the level of organisation as well as with the level of participation by the various clubs that took part in the competition.
“The competitors definitely showed what they have been taught by their masters during their trainings,” Sally said, urging the participants to continue to work hard, as the event will be organised annually.
Sheikh Ngum, winner of the 65KG category, said he utilised what he learnt during training to win the competition.
This was not the first time for him to win such a competition, he said, adding that winning the competition has motivated him the more to respect his training for future competitions.
