Kickboxers confident

Antananarivo, Madagascar, have expressed confidence ahead of the event.
The championships are expected to attract fighters from South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion, Zimbabwe and the hosts Madagascar.

National champion Brighton Tangata said they are ready to battle it out with some of Africa’s best fighters.
“We are ready for the championships, we have been preparing for the event and we are looking forward to it.
“The important thing is to do the basics when we get to Madagascar, that is to represent the nation,” said Tangata.

The spotlight will be on Tangata, who won a bronze medal at the Kickboxing World Cup held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in May.
He will fight in the lightweight category.
He reckoned that their biggest challenge might come from Madagascar who have some good fighters.

“The guys there are professionals. They spend most of their time training unlike us . . . we do this on a part-time basis.
“However, for me I believe that if I fight in my category, I stand a chance of winning a gold medal. I have been training hard for this tournament,” said Tangata.
Light-welterweight fighter Knowledge Bazioni believes the team is going to do well in Madagascar as everyone is hungry for success.

“We’ve had enough time to prepare for the event and we are raring to go. Everyone in camp wants to do well in the championships.
“We have been focusing on the basics such as the new rules of the sport and endurance because most of the guys are used to fighting in three-round matches but in Madagascar it will be five rounds,” said Bazioni.