adminThe tournament kicks off today and ends tomorrow in London with karatekas from across the globe battling it out in various weight categories and Zimbabwe had received an invitation from the organisers to be part of the event.
Zimbabwe had lined up a team made up of seasoned fighters including former world champion, Samson Muripo, Mugove Muhambi, Admire Chingozhoro, Nicholas Muchatisi, Tawanda Mufundisi and Naison Chituva.
There were high expectations for the team to do well in the tournament as these fighters had competed in major international competitions before and were raring to go.
Zimbabwe Karate Union secretary-general, Steven Charandura said they were disappointed with the development as they had done all the preparatory work for the tournament.
“The visas are not yet out and passports are still in South Africa. If they did not want to give us the visas they should just have declined.
“The team can nolonger go. If the visas had come out today (yesterday) we could have tried for them to go directly which, obviously would have affected their performance.
“The organisers have been calling enquiring if the team was still coming and we have been trying to push for the visas. It means the UK tour has failed, it’s over,” said Charandura.
Charandura said they are shifting their focus to another tournament scheduled for October in Chile and are hoping to send a team for the event.
“We are now planning for a tournament in Chile in October,” said Charandura.
Muripo also expressed his disappointment as he said it has been a waste of time and resources preparing for an event they could not participate in.
Online Reporter