adminIshemunyoro Chingwere – Sports Reporter
HIGHLY-REGARDED Zimbabwean karateka Sensei Tawanda Mufundisi will have to endure a long lay-off on the sidelines after suffering a double leg fracture during last weekend’s International Karate Federation Matushima World Cup in Durban, South Africa.
Mufundisi fractured his fibula and tibia bones while aiming a low kick in the semi-finals of the lightweight category.
The injury ended the country’s hopes of clinching gold following Sensei Samson Muripo’s departure with a silver medal.
Muripo lost out on a “dubious” technicality.
Zimbabwe Karate Union secretary general Stephen Charandura disclosed that Mufundisi did not return with the rest of the team last week as the doctors attended to him.
“We could not come back with him because he was in serious pain and our journey by road would have been too much for him to endure.
“We also got assurances that he would be well taken care of, so we left him there and we are told he went for surgery on Thursday.
“We now expect him to be discharged anytime from now and hope the corporate world will help us and buy him an air ticket. Travelling by road will be unbearable for him,” he said.
Zimbabwe failed to win gold at the Durban tournament, with the team feeling hard done by what Charandura called biased officiating.
Besides Muripo, who was disqualified in the final for “punching an opponent in the face”, Austine Mucheni made it to the second round in the middle weight category, while Brian Chirinda was knocked out in the last 16.
“Some of the officiating left a lot to be desired, but we are proud of how the team performed and we look forward to more international assignments.
“Karate has great potential here in Zimbabwe, but the sport badly needs funding,” said Charandura.
Meanwhile, the IKF has sent a get well soon message to Mufundisi.
“The IFK wishes Zimbabwe Country Representative Tawanda Mufundisi a speedy recovery after he broke his shin against a Ukrainian opponent in the 4th IKO Matsushima World Cup in Durban on Sunday. Tawanda had to settle for 4th place after sustaining the injury delivering a low kick,” the organisation said in a statement.
Online Reporter