adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Karate Union full contact team raised the country’s flag high when they scooped four trophies at the just-ended Limpopo Shinkyokushinkai Karate tournament in Polokwane, South Africa.
The country had six fighters drawn from shukokai and kyokushin styles taking part and four of them won trophies in their respective weight divisions on Saturday.
The one-day tournament featured karatekas from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The team was made up of Sydney Muzongolo, Tungamirai Madzimbamuto, Antony Geza, Ian Gengezha, Joseph Mapholisa and Lovejoy Mudhokwani.
Muzongolo scooped silver in the 80kg division while Madzimbamuto won bronze when he finished third in the same category. Geza clinched silver in the Under-60kg weight division and also got the most spirited trophy of the tournament. Gengezha weighed in with another bronze.
Mapholisa and Mudhokwani were eliminated in the quarter-finals in the Under-70kg.
The team was accompanied by Kelvin Ben and former world champion Samson Muripo.
Muripo, who was the team manager, commended the karatekas for putting up a spirited fight although he noted that there was still room for improvement.
“This was our second outing after taking part last year in Pretoria.
“All categories were won by South Africans.
“Fighters are improving as each year passes.
“I like the spirit of our fighters although they still have a lot to work on.
“As fighters they should never be satisfied, learning never ends,” said Muripo.
Muripo said most of the fighters took part in the All-Africa tournament held in Chitungwiza in July while some competed in the Shoin Kempo last May, in Johannesburg, and is hopeful they will continue exposing their athletes to competitive events.
“I hope with sponsorship we can breed and expose dozens of our athletes to such events,” Muripo said.
Zimbabwe came second behind winners South Africa, who won all the categories.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe-Japan Karate Association Shotokan team scooped eight bronze medals at the JKA/WF Africa Cup in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Zimbabwe came third in the team kata and team kumite categories, shrugging off stiff competition from seven other African countries taking part in the tournament.
The competition was open to JKA Shotokan practitioners only.
The kumite team was made up of Allan Sibanda, Never Mutizwa, Tapiwa Matsivo, Calvin Jackson and Wellington Mutimurefu, all from Gweru Sports Club. Mutizwa, Matsivo and Mutimurefu went on to compete in kata also.
The teams were under the tutelage of sensei Gibson Sangweni and Phibion Mudzenda.
Sibanda said the teams had performed beyond expectations since most of their members are upcoming fighters.
“Given the financial constraints and short preparations we had, this was a massive performance.
“We will take this as a very important learning experience. The competition was quite stiff, but we learnt a thing or two,” he said.
The organisers also held grading and training sessions prior to the competition.
Online Reporter