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UPCOMING karateka Justice Mutyoramwendo is fancying his chances at the forthcoming Fifth International So-Kyokushin Karate Championships Oyama Cup in Ahvaz, Iran, next month.
The 20-year-old is among several emerging karatekas the Zimbabwe So-kyokushin Karate Do-Organisation is grooming for the future.
And he says he would want to leave a mark at the Oyama Cup slated for February 27 to March 1.
Mutyoramwendo got a bronze last year at the IKOKU International full contact karate tournament in South Africa when he came fourth.
It was his first international competition.
He competed at the International Karate Kyokushinkaikan 2018 Dream Cup in Seoul, South Korea, where he failed to go beyond the first round stages.
“I think this time I will perform better because from my last competition, I think I have some experience now and I now know how to handle international fights.
“Of course, in such tournaments you meet other tough opponents but at the moment I think I am more than ready because since we came back from South Korea we have been training.
”It has been a continuous process. And I am also training with champion,” said Mutyoramwendo.
The team will be led by former world champion Samson Muripo and the other team members are Tangayi Mhlanga, Naison Chituwa, Patrick Mangwiro and Admire Chingozhoro.
“We have learnt a lot from Shihan Muripo, for example if you are training for a big fight you need to work hard.
”He is ever training, and when we come here at the dojo we always find him training which means if we also want to be champions we need to train and work hard,” said Mutyoramwendo.
Mutyoramwendo is set to compete in the lightweight division.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu