Experienced fighter Brighton Tangata, Knowledge Marodza, Malvern Kaura, Darlington Chiromo brothers Knowledge and Norbert Bazioni are ready to showcase their talent under the Zimbabwean flag in the continental ring. Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association Vice President, Vengai Mugadza, believes Zimbabwean kick-boxers can hold their own on the international stage but bemoaned the lack of financial support that he said was stifling the development of the sport.
There is vast talent in our sport but it has been unfortunate that we face financial challenges that restrict us from participating in competitive tournaments most of the times. The more our athletes are exposed to international competitions the more they gain experience, he said.
Mugadza has all the reasons to entertain hopes for a medal from Tangata who brought one of the 23 medals from the 2007 All Africa Games in Algeria where he won a bronze.
There are very high chances of Tangata bringing a medal home and despite not having the kind of experience he has, the other fighters have the ability of taking the limelight there. Darlington (Chiromo) will be competing for the first time at a tournament of this level but I have no doubt that he will be very competitive, he explained.
I can see our biggest challenge coming from Algeria, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. Algeria is the current champions of the competition after taking more medals in the previous edition and we have faced South Africa many times for them to know our weaknesses. But we will go there with a positive mind knowing that we have prepared just enough, he said.
Post published in: Athletics