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The tournament is pencilled for October 1 and 2 and will feature countries from across the globe.
African nations expected to compete include hosts South Africa, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
But the spotlight will fall on Muripo who will lead a Zimbabwe team that includes Lovemore Nyamutswa, Malvery Muyambo, Tendai Chaparadza, Kelly Mtisi, and the Mucheni brothers — Robson and Austin.
Muripo, Nyamutswa and Mtisi will battle it out in the heavyweight category while the Mucheni brothers will take part in the middleweight division.
Muyambo and Chaparadza will represent Zimbabwe in the lightweight category.
Muripo, who is also the Zimba-bwe Kyokushin Union technical director, said the rest of the team would leave on Sunday while he would later join them on Tuesday.
The world champion, however, expressed confidence in his colleagues.
“The fighters will be leaving on Sunday and everyone is ready for the tournament. We expect to take everything which will be at stake,” said Muripo.
But Muripo said they were still struggling for sponsorship and had so far received US$3 000 for transport out of the US$12 000, which had been pledged by a Harare company Arosume Property Develop-ment.
“If we fail to get the rest of the money we will go to the karatekas but we will be straining them however, we know some individuals will come on board,” said Muripo.
His colleague, Nyamutswa, said they have been focusing on the technical part since Ashihara is going to be a new style for most of the fighters.
“Preparations have been going on well, we are training as a team focusing on the technical part of it because it is not our style.
“However, we have been doing our best to suit the techniques and the style. We expect to do our best,” said Nyamutswa.
High expectations will be put on Muripo, Nyamutswa and Muyambo to lead Zimbabwe’s search for honours.
Muripo became the first African to hold a world title after a remarkable performance at the Kyokushin Union World Cup held in Japan last year.
He has continued to raise the country’s flag high and this year he came second in the All-Japanese International Karate tournament and he will be hoping to do the same in the forthcoming event.
Nyamutswa and Muyambo also did the nation proud when they won two gold medals and one silver in the Second Kyokushin Union Of Southern Africa Tournament held in May, in South Africa.
Nyamutswa was also crowned the best technical fighter of the tournament.
Online Reporter