adminrounds of the competition.
Zimbabwe sent an eight-member team for the one-day event fielding fighters in the lightweight, middleweight and open weight divisions.
Brian Chiringa is the only member of the team who managed to get a trophy after finishing fourth in the open weight division while his teammate Naison Chituwa lost in the first round.
The pair of Nicolas Muchatisi and Kudakwashe Katiyo were eliminated from the competition in the first round in the middleweight division while Austin Mucheni lost in the second round.
In the lightweight section the trio of Sly Karidzamimba, Shadreck Chigombe and Tinashe Matika lost in the first round.
National technical director for full contact styles, Tendayi Mutikani, said they were satisfied with the performance put in by their fighters as most of them were making their debut appearance at the tournament.
“I think most of the seasoned fighters we were hoping to field in the event could not make it and most of these guys were fighting for the first time, the likes of Sly, Tinashe and Shadreck were all competing in the Under-18 and this is their first time in the seniors, they fought very well.
“In the previous competitions we used to field seasoned fighters but this time we took these youngsters because we realise that the likes of Samson (Muripo), Tawanda (Mufundisi) and Mugove (Muhambi) are getting older, so we need to bridge the gap.
“We want our upcoming fighters to learn from these guys before they call it a day, so that they get the experience and by participating in the regional events we are exposing them to more competition.
“We have Manicaland, they are now active in karate, and we are going to work with them to get more fighters,” said Mutikani.
Mutikani said they were now preparing for the Fifth South Africa Kyokushin Union Karate Championships scheduled for Cape Town and they will be taking some of the karatekas that took part in Saturday’s event.
“We are now preparing for the Africa Championships all styles and we will be taking part in that tournament.
“We will be taking most of our seasoned fighters and some of the new guys that were in Johannesburg, last week” said Mutikani.
The tournament featured fighters from Botswana, Lesotho, Gabon, Swaziland, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter