Zim karate team in Japan Cup

Cup today at the City Sports Centre.
The event is being hosted by the Zimbabwe Karate Union and will feature fighters from both semi and full contact styles.

National team coach, Paul Danisa, said the tournament presents them with a platform to assess the progress made by the fighters so far in preparing for the Games scheduled for September 3 to 18 in Maputo, Mozambique.
“We have been preparing for the event for the past two months mainly in Harare and the Japanese Ambassador Cup gives us the opportunity to assess the fighters performance. It will be the final tune up.

“If any injuries occur there is time to recover before the Games. All members of the team will be there. We have a team of seven fighters,” said Danisa.
The seven fighters are Gondo Gondo, Victor Bhunu, Kudakwashe Chihlava, David Dube, Winston Nyanhete, Justin Mashiri and Simbarashe Chihlava.
Danisa said they have also organised friendly tournaments with Botswana, as they are not taking any chances.

“We have organised a number of friendlies against Botswana mainly because they are the powerhouse in the region. “We have strategically positioned our team in categories we think we chance to win,” said Danisa.

ZKU vice-president Colleta Mhishi said they expect everyone to participate in the event.
“This tournament will cover bot semi and full contact karate and it’s a national event. Everyone is expected to compete because this is the last event we have before going for the All-Africa Games.