adminThe event is slated for Saturday with karatekas from across the globe expected to compete in the lightweight, middleweight and Open weight divisions.
Muripo will battle it out in the Open weight category together with seasoned fighters — Mugove Muhambi, Admire Chingozhoro, Naison Chituwa and Brian Chiringa.
Another seasoned karateka, Tawanda Mufundisi, will be the torchbearer in the middleweight category.
He will be joined by Nicholas Muchatisi, Brian Chigara and Kudakwashe Katiyo while the trio of Sly Karidzamimba, Tinashe Matika and Shadreck Chigombe will fight for honours in the lightweight section.
Some of the fighters such as Karidzamimba, Matika and Chigombe were part of the team that took part in the Southern Africa All Styles Full Contact karate tournament held last month in Johannesburg and will be hoping to redeem themselves after most of them failed to reach the knockout stages.
Team coach, Kumbirai Musinami, said they are taking a mixed team with experienced and new fighters.
“We are taking most of our seasoned fighters, we want our juniors like Naison, Tinashe and Sly to learn from these senior fighters.
“We are still developing them and their first (regional) tournament was in Johannesburg and they have got great potential. We also have Brian Chigara, he is a good fighter, he hasn’t been fighting because of injuries but he is back.
“This is an international tournament and Zimbabwe is a ranked country in the full contact karate so we would want to live up to that.
“Our chances will be much higher now that we are taking fighters who know it all. They know what to do and I am confident with the guys we have, we are hoping that we will bring some gold medals,” said Musinami.
Musinami said the involvement of senior karatekas will boost confidence for the upcoming fighters.
“It will give confidence to our juniors. It’s also part of our plan for continuation because we know that most of our fighters won’t be fighting in the ring soon and will be concentrating on the juniors. We have always had big expectations, it’s only the tournament in SA that we didn’t do well,” he said.
Online Reporter