Mufundisi for world champs

Sports Reporter
SEASONED karateka Tawanda Mufundisi has appealed to the corporate world for assistance ahead of his trip to Bulgaria for the World Kyoksuhin Union Championships set for early next month. The championships are pencilled for October 4 to 6 with karatekas from across the globe expected to take part. The event will feature fighters from various full contact styles and they will compete for honours in nine weight divisions ranging from Under-65kg to Under-95kg.

Mufundisi who is now practising under IFK is part of the nine fighters that were drawn from the different full contact styles in the country to represent the nation in Bulgaria and so far the team has received six tickets from Shihan Hennie Bosman of South Africa. However, Mufundisi is among three fighters that are still to get air tickets for the trip and is facing financial challenges to fund his trip.

“We are going to Bulgaria but I am looking for sponsorship, there was someone who wanted to buy me the ticket but pulled out at the last minute, so I am appealing to the corporate world to assist me because the draw has already been done and I am fighting a guy from Hungary. I just need the air ticket, everything else is covered. I need about US$2 000.

“Some of the guys got tickets from Hennie Bosman but I didn’t because we had a misunderstanding when I was working for him between 2007 to 2010 in South Africa.

“In terms of training we are at an advanced stage, we have been preparing for the past four months. We train together as a squad and everything has been going on well, the only challenge is sponsorship,” said Mufundisi.

Zimbabwe Karate Union technical director for full contact styles, Tendayi Mutikani said they need about US$10 000 to cater for the other three karatekas and some officials to accompany the team to Bulgaria.

“We have put in place a financial committee to raise money for us and like what we have been doing in the past we have karatekas drawn from all full contact styles to make a national team. This tournament is combined and we received six tickets from Shihan Bosman which he said should be given to Kyokushin-kan fighters so we are now looking for tickets for the other three athletes and officials.

“This issue of the tickets is now causing problems for us because as a country we had said this is our team, we had drawn fighters from the various full contact styles to represent us,” said Mutikani.

The team is made up of Mufundisi, Mugove Muhambi, Samson Muripo, Admire Chingozhoro, Brian Chiringa, Kudakwashe Katiyo, Naison Chituva and the Mucheni brothers — Austin and Robson.