Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S karate warriors turned the 1st Kyokushin Kenbukaikan World Championship in Lusaka into their own show, bagging seven gold medals and leaving rivals from across the globe stunned.
The 30-member Zimbabwe Karate union (ZKU) team dominated the weekend tournament, which drew fighters from more than ten countries including Russia, the UK, and South Africa.
ZKU president, Tawanda Mufundisi, praised the team.
“The team performed extremely well. They seemed very prepared and they did very well,” he said.
The stars of the show were Alfred Kaseke and Tatenda Kambarami, who both claimed world titles in the men’s and women’s open categories.
For Kambarami, who was making her debut on the world stage, the win felt unreal.
“I was nervous at first because it was my first World Championship, but I just had to believe in myself and the work we’d done.
“Our coaches and officials were amazing, they kept telling me I could win,” she said.
It was another all Zimbabwe final in the men’s under 80kg as Simbarashe Khumba defeated compatriot Robert Mashingaidze to take gold.
“The competition wasn’t that tough once I settled in,” Khumba said. “I gained confidence with each fight.”
Khumba credited his mentor Shihan Samson Muripo, the former world champion, for inspiring his rise.
“I fell in love with karate when I heard about him winning his first world title in Japan,” he said.
Tafadzwa Mutize also powered his way to gold in the men’s under 70kg, while Tendai Chikohomera, Alicia Mufundisi, and Takunda Mukumba ruled the junior divisions.
Mufundisi said ZKU will close the year with two big local events, the Japanese Ambassador Cup and the annual Champs of Champs.
