Ermelo’s karate community is celebrating a series of significant achievements, with Sensei Eugene recently elected as Chief Referee for Mpumalanga Karate. His appointment marks a major step forward for officiating within the province, further strengthened by his upgrade to National Judge B in both Kata and Kumite.
Photo: Sensei Eugene Smith
Reflecting on the milestone, Sensei Eugene expressed appreciation for the opportunity, noting his commitment to developing the standard of referees and judges across Mpumalanga. He highlighted the need to grow capacity within the province and emphasised his intention to help strengthen and expand officiating structures going forward.
Photo: Chibuzo Okpugo
Adding to the achievement, two of Ermelo Karate’s young talents, Chibuzo and Chinedu, have also advanced to National Judge B level in Kata. They are now ranked just below Sensei Eugene as the next highest qualified and accredited judges in Mpumalanga, with only three individuals in the province holding this level of qualification. Their accomplishment also places them among the youngest judges in Karate South Africa (KSA) history to attain a national qualification.
Photo: Chinedu Okpugo
Chinedu has further distinguished himself by upgrading to Provincial Kumite Judge A, demonstrating proficiency across both major disciplines of the sport. Their progression highlights the depth of development within the Ermelo dojo, where athletes are not only competing but actively contributing to the sport through officiating.
Photo: The Mpumalanga Officials at the Recent Nationals
The dojo’s strength in development is also evident in coaching structures. Lesedi Twala, who has qualified as a referee, has been selected to transition into a coaching role for the Mpumalanga Provincial Team. Although his formal coaching accreditation will follow next year, he has already played a key role at the recent Junior Nationals, assisting with athlete coordination and supporting parents throughout the event.
These combined achievements reflect a strong culture of growth within Ermelo Karate, with both senior leadership and emerging officials contributing to the advancement of the sport in Mpumalanga.