adminThe tournament attracted fighters from Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, South Africa, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and France.
Zimbabwe battled it out in all the three weight divisions — lightweight, middleweight and open weight.
It was an all-Zimbabwean affair in the lightweight with Tinashe Matika, Sly Karidzamimba, Kudakwashe Katiyo and Shadreck Chingombe dominating as they made it into the top four.
Matika scooped a gold medal after beating his teammate Karidzamimba who had to settle for a silver medal while Katiyo walked away with a bronze medal.
The team went on to claim another gold medal in the middleweight division when Brain Chiringa came first in this category.
Former world champion, Samson Muripo weighed in with another silver medal in the heavyweight section.
He lost to South Africa’s Simpiwe Dlulane in the finals.
Zimbabwe Karate Union national technical director for full contact styles, Tendayi Mutikani, was happy with the team’s performance at the tournament after struggling in a regional competition held in Johannesburg in May.
They failed to win any medal as most of the representative were eliminated in the first round matches.
However, for the championships held over the weekend, the national association had a mixed team of seasoned and upcoming fighters as they wanted to consolidate their status as one of the powerhouses in Africa.
“I think this time it was a bit better because since we came back from the previous tournament we just worked on the weaknesses we had noticed and you will realise that all those that lost in the lightweight in that tournament were in the top four this time around.
“The competition was stiff because this was Africa competing and there were fighters from various countries and France also sent a few fighters.
“We fought very well because there were just a few things we needed to change from our previous encounter.
“Our fighters needed to just win the first round matches and once they did that they had the confidence,” said Mutikani.
Zimbabwe were initially hoping to send 12 fighters but some of them, including seasoned fighter Tawanda Mufundisi, pulled out after the death of his mother while Austin Mucheni and Admire Chingozhoro withdrew due to personal issues.
The tournament is an annual event held in commemoration of the late Shihan Len Barnes who passed away 10 year ago.
He was responsible for introducing karate in South Africa in the early 1950s.
Online Reporter