adminexpected to lead a team of four karatekas to represent the country in this year’s competition in Kazakhstan early next month.
The event is pencilled for July 6 and participants will compete in three weight divisions-lightweight, middleweight and open weight category.
Zimbabwe will be represented in all the categories.
The other three fighters are George Mutambo set to fight for honours in the Open weight division and Lovemore Nyamutswa who will battle it out in the middleweight.
Malvery Muyambo will take part in the lightweight category.
The team received a big boost ahead of their departure when Arosume Property Development handed over tracksuits and air tickets for the four fighters worth US$19 000 and Forest Secretarial Services chipped in with US$1 000 towards the trip.
Speaking at hand-over ceremony at Raylton Sports Club yesterday, Arosume property development sales and marketing executive, Nathan Mnaba, said their relationship with the kyokushin karatekas has continued to grow over the past years.
“Our relationship with the karatekas has actually developed well since 2009 and their performance is improving as well.
“A lot of people are now coming in to support, showing responsibility, and as the corporate world we have to give back to the community.
“I believe he (Muripo) will come back with the title,” said Mnaba.
KUZ chairman Steven Charandura was grateful to the sponsors and urged them to continue supporting them as they aim to scale greater heights in the sport.
The four karatekas have been preparing for the event since last year and Muripo, who is also the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe technical director, said they were ready for the global competition.
“We are towards the end of our preparations. Everyone in camp is in high spirits.
“We are training together everyday so that we build team spirit within ourselves,” said Muripo.
Muripo wrote his own piece of history in 2009 when he became the first Zimbabwean world champion in any karate style.
He became the first black member of the elite group of local athletes who have managed to turn themselves into the best on the global stage.
He also became the first African to win the title since the first international kyokushin organisation world championships in 1975.
The 33-year-old said he knows what to expect in the championships and will be out to defend his title.
“We are well prepared for the day. I know the competition is going to be tough but I have to represent my country perfectly,” said Muripo.
Muripo will take on Agvan Matosyan of Altai region team in his first round match and if he wins he will fight the Mughal Adnan of Pakistan and Artur Gruenwald of Germany.
Some of the countries to compete include last year’s hosts Japan, Russia, Australia, Iran, Georgia, Korea, Spain and Kuwait.
The team is expected to head for Kazakhstan next week on Wednesday and will be back on July 8.
Team manager Kudzi Shaba said they were certain of success.
“We have a competitive team that has the experience of Samson and the enthusiasm of the others to also become world champions,” said Shaba.
“We believe they will stand tall in Kazakhstan and represent their country with pride.
“Samson showed us that it can be done but that should be the beginning, and not the end, of the story and we expect more world champions.
“I think for a small country, like ours, our success in sport has been remarkable as we have had a world champion in diving, swimming, golf, tennis and now karate.”
Online Reporter