adminEllina Mhlanga : Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE So-kyokushin branch chief, Samson Muripo has reckoned that their second All-Africa tournament scheduled for this weekend at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex will be crucial in helping them build for a bigger international tournament to be staged in the country next year. After successfully hosting the inaugural event last year, Zimbabwe So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation will stage another edition for the second year running on Saturday.Muripo said they are hoping to host an even bigger international tournament next year in July and the All-Africa event will present them with a platform to assess their capacity to stage that in 2017.
“This event is very important for us as Zimbabwe So-kyokushin karate-do organisation as it puts us at a litmus test of how prepared we are in hosting such a great event.
“The tournament is heralding the first ever So-kyokushin International Karate championship games in the coming year on the 22nd of July where Zimbabwe will be graced by Hanshi Daigo Oishi, the vice president of the International Karate Organisation Kyokushin Kaikan: World So-Kyokushin.
“It is our quest to put Zimbabwe on the world Karate map, promoting sports tourism,” said Muripo.
For Saturday’s event, there are 12 categories on offer for senior men, women and juniors.
So-kyokushin karate-do organisation senior instructor, Kumbirai Musinami said they are looking forward to a bigger and better event this year.
“The preparations for the tournament are at an advanced stage. I can say all Zimbabwean athletes are ready for the tournament, we have got 95 athletes. We also have athletes from South Africa, Swaziland and Malawi. Those are the four countries that have confirmed. So for now we have 250 athletes for different categories.
“This time around the tournament is actually bigger than the last year one because we have got a number of champions coming especially from South Africa. We have Mbali Msomi, she is the reigning champion in Africa in the open category. We also have Thabani Mandebela, he is also one of the most revered fighters in South Africa. He has participated at international level a number of times.
“We are also not to be outdone we have our own Africa champion, Brian Chiringa, who will also be fighting. We have got Tangai Mhlanga and Admire Chingozhoro. These are the guys that have raised Zimbabwe’s flag before. So it’s going to be highly competitive.
With a number of these champions it means the tournament is going to be more technical,” said Musinami.
Musinami, who is also the Zimbabwe Karate Union technical director for full contact styles said the tournament promotes the growth of the sport locally.
“We are hosting this tournament for the second time, it means a lot to Zimbabwe. It means we have managed to maintain continuity. It’s a sign of growth for us as a country, we are growing. It’s growth and it’s putting Zimbabwe among the best. It means we are recognised.
“It gives our athletes exposure to these big events. Last year we had Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.
In Africa these are the countries that have full contact at the highest level,” Musinami said.
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