Historic moment for Namibian karate in Harare

Karate
Namibia’s young karate stars set to shine at Africa’s first WKF Youth Camp in Harare
Brian Munango
  • 4 Hours Ago

Namibia is set to make its mark at the Karate 1 Youth League in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 26–29 March, with a strong delegation of athletes and officials proudly representing the nation.


The team is led by Chief Referee Sensei Wikus Oberholster, alongside National Coach Sensei Warren de Jager and Assistant Coach Sensei Nathan Goliath. On the tatami, Namibia will be represented by rising talents Cayden Poulton, Gabriella Strappazzon, Mikayla Geyser and Aidan Bampton.


The event marks a significant milestone for the sport, as Africa hosts its first-ever WKF Youth Camp, underlining the continued growth and development of karate across the continent.


The Karate 1 Youth League is a global platform designed to showcase and nurture young talent, complementing the elite Karate One Premier League and Series A competitions. It provides aspiring athletes with an opportunity to gain international exposure and progress within the sport.


Harare 2026 is particularly historic, as it becomes the first African city to host a leg of karate’s premier global youth competition series. The event represents a defining moment not only for Zimbabwe but for African karate as a whole, bringing world-class competition closer to home for many young athletes.

Taking place at the City Sports Centre, the tournament runs from 26 to 28 March and features more than 200 athletes from 34 countries. Hosts Zimbabwe field the largest delegation, followed by South Africa, highlighting strong regional participation.

The competition will follow a knockout format across 34 categories for athletes aged between 12 and 19, with finals scheduled at the end of each day.

Harare previously hosted the successful Guardian Girls Karate initiative in November 2025, aimed at tackling gender-based violence and empowering young women through sport—further reinforcing the city’s growing role in the development of karate in Africa.

As the second event of the 2026 season, following the opener in Fujairah, the Youth League will continue its global journey to Manila, Poreč, Guadalajara and Venice.

All matches from the Harare leg will be streamed live on the World Karate Federation’s YouTube channel, offering fans the chance to follow Namibia’s athletes as they compete on this historic stage.