Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE So-Kyokushin Karate-Do Organisation technical director Kumbirai Musinami says they are pleased to have fighters from South Africa and Malawi gracing their selection tournament that comes to life today at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex.
The two-day event is running until tomorrow.
“We are expecting fireworks. Fighters from Malawi, they have already started coming in.
“South Africa, some have already come in, some we are expecting them to arrive today or late today (yesterday).
“So, almost everyone who promised to come is on their way and it’s going to be a very big event.
“From Malawi, we are expecting a total of eight fighters and from South Africa, the total delegation is 18 and from those 18, it includes some officials as well.
“Some who have come as far as Cape Town and the majority are coming from Johannesburg and the fighters, there should be about 13 of them,” said Musinami.
Zimbabwe So-kyokushin are using the event to select a national team that will compete in international events, mainly next year’s World Championships in Japan.
“This makes our selection tournament top-notch indeed, because we have got fighters who are coming in, those that our athletes have not been seeing and training with.
“That makes the competition much tougher because basically what we are looking for are fighters who have got the mental stamina to go beyond their own limit,” said Musinami.
“And relationship-wise, it means we have cultivated sound and good relations with our colleagues in the region, in the likes of Shihan Petersen Abubakr from Cape Town.
“He is already here. He was also assisting with conducting of referees’ seminar, and Shihan Thulani Sibisi from Johannesburg he is also coming.
“Those guys, we have worked closely with them. We have attended their events and they have also attended our events before, so it’s a show of camaraderie and good relations.
“Malawi is our baby, because their chief instructor, Sensei Elliot Chisalanga, we trained him here in Zimbabwe. He is like our son, and he is our student.
“We are happy because now he has started having students who can actually participate in tournaments.
“While we develop and select a very strong Zimbabwean team, it’s going to help also the Malawi guys, as well as the South Africans, to also see how their fighters fare because this is going to be very competitive for all the athletes,” added Musinami.
As part of the build-up to the tournament, they held a two-day athletes’ technical seminar. They also had a referees/judges seminar from Wednesday to yesterday at Raylton Sports Club.
And brought in Japanese instructors Naoto Kusakabe and Marty Yamagata to lead the seminars. They were also part of the instructors that led the dan promotion held yesterday at the same venue.
“So far, all the athletes that we promised are in, our dignitaries, our visitors from Japan are already here. They are overseeing the technical dan grading Raylton Sports Club.
“They actually conducted the referees’ course yesterday and the day before, they will conduct another one again today. So, we are pushing to try and make sure no stone is left unturned.
“Working of course closely in conjunction with Zimbabwe Karate Union, we are pushing, we are almost there.
“Just finalising on the small details but basically everything is in place and definitely the tournament is going to be there,” said Musinami.
Some of the local top karatekas expected to take part include the likes of Simbarashe Kumba, Edwin Manyika, Tinashe Matika and Arnold Kashiri are among the top contenders in the Men’s Open.
Tatenda Kambarami is set to lead in the Women’s Open division.
Tafadzwa Mutize and Ashley Munyendo are up for the Under-70kg category.
The Women’s Lightweight division is expected to feature the likes of Tsitsi Muranda and Florry Chandavengerwa Kambarami said she is ready for the challenge.
