David Kok (left) receiving a Commendation Certificate from the International Kukkiwon President in October last year in Seoul, South Korea. Picture: Supplied
KIMBERLEY-based David Kok, President of the South African Taekwondo Federation will this weekend be nominated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympics Council’s (Sascoc) board.
Kok’s nomination comes on the heels of him recently accepting nomination to the international “Peace and Sports” awards where, incidentally, SA rugby captain Siya Kolisi was a nominee last year.
In addition to all of this, Kok was also recently named as a nominee for Best Sports Personality in Province for the Northern Cape Awards to be held on December 5 this year.
Speaking to the DFA yesterday, Kok, who is a master trainer of the South African Taekwondo team that achieved Gold and Bronze respectively during the International Virtual Taekwondo Championships held in August, could not contain his excitement at being at the receiving end of all these accolades.
“This is an amazing achievement for me personally because not only do I influence our community locally but Internationally as well,” he said.
“My highlight is certainly the fact that I’m a Nominee for Board Membership in Sascoc which definitely put the Northern Cape Sporting fraternity in good terms to have one of their own to serve the nation from that nodal point which will also inspire many talented youngsters and administrators alike to do better and reach higher levels of excellence through sports in our Province,” Kok added.
Had it not been for the arrival of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown earlier in the year Kok would have been part of South Africa’s team to an international Taekwondo tournament which was due to have been held in India in April.
However, Kok said that all the success and good news also comes with its difficulties. “The only challenge I’m still struggling with since 2015 is to get funding and sponsorship,” he told the DFA on Friday.
“The Shidokwon Academy is a Non-Profit Organisation and funding and other kinds of assistance and support will surely help because the academy is operating merely out of my own pocket and from contributions here and there,” he added.
Yet, despite all the lows and disappointments of 2020, and as a direct result of his untiring, disciplined work in his field of expertise, Kok will be among a select few personalities who will end the year on a high.