A judoka from Bloemfontein has been included in the South African senior men’s team.
Mosa Thetsane (22) is the only Free State candidate who will represent the country at this year’s African Judo Championships.
This continental showpiece will be hosted in Oran, Algeria, from 26 to 29 May.
Thetsane impressed national selectors at the trials and grading event conducted at the University of Pretoria at the end of February, where he obtained the first place in the extra lightweight (60 kg and under) category for senior men.
“My immediate challenge is getting a financial sponsor to cover travelling expenses to represent my country in Algeria,” said Thetsane.
Since 2016 he has represented South Africa on numerous occasions, and his efforts have earned him various gold, silver and bronze medals.
On his international debut at the 2016 Commonwealth Judo Championships in Gqeberha, Thetsane claimed a gold medal in the category for judokas weighing less than 50 kg. His sterling performance earned him his national colours.
Thetsane’s talent saw him included in the South African team that represented the country at the African Judo Championships in Egypt in 2017, and again in Senegal in 2019.
He also participated in the Commonwealth Youth Games in The Bahamas in 2017.
In 2016 he represented the country at the Region 5 Games in Angola, and again in Botswana in 2018.
Over the years Thetsane has attended international preparatory training camps in Angola, The Bahamas, Botswana and Japan.
At the moment Thetsane is preparing himself for the judo championships that will be hosted at the Free State Sports Science Institute in Bloemfontein later this year.
