Karate team upbeat

The national karate team is upbeat ahead of the forthcoming All-Africa Games, promising the nation a “harvest of gold medals”.

This follows the recent selection of a star-studded squad of fighters known for grinding results even in the trickiest of encounters. The All Africa So-Kyokushin championships’ full contact will be held in the country on July 25, ahead of the grand games set for Congo Brazzaville in September.

Team Zimbabwe is riding high, after their return from South Africa, where they scooped a number of medals and trophies from the 2015 Shorin Kempo Kaikan’s All Styles Full Contact Tournament.

Seven local fighters triumphed in that competition and Sensei Kumbirai Musinami, the Team Zimbabwe technical director, told The Zimbabwean that morale was high among the fighters.

“We hope to impress the nation. The preparations for fighters are in full swing. There will be Kata and Kumite competitions for various categories for both juniors and seniors; male and females and we hope to string medals,” he said.

The stars that Zimbabweans should place their hopes upon Kyokushinkaikan’s Brian Chiringa who harvested gold, So-Kyokushin’s Sydney Muzongolo, Phumulani Maphosa, Joseph Mapholisa and IFK’s Jean-Claud Mufundisi. Emily Abrams, Shadreck Chigombe, Brenda Dunduru and Malvern Chomusora are also some of the promising fighters.

Sensei Musinami revealed that a fundraising committee had been put together for the event.

The Zimbabwe Karate Union has also battled to get financial support from treasury despite being one of the few national associations to fully comply with the Sports and Recreation Commission Act’s financial requirements. Key areas of the act include submitting annual audited financial reports, yearly budgets, activities and calendar.

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