Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE National Karate Federation coach Winston Nyanhete has expressed satisfaction with the consistency shown by the country’s young athletes at major events following a fruitful outing at the 2026 African union Sports Council Region 5 Championships.
The team collected 11 medals at the regional karate competition held over the weekend in Luanda, Angola. Zimbabwe fielded a squad of 11 participants, largely made up of youth athletes.
“The team’s performance was humbling provided we travelled by bus and most of our kata hopefuls did not make it due to delays along the way. Shayne Manyathela, straight off the bus to winning gold was amazing. Our Girls team kata missed out because we were late to arrive but everyone put up a spirited fight.
“We managed to take a small team of 11 athletes out of a team of 43 because of financial constraints. I am happy with the team’s performance. The regional event has grown to become highly competitive over the years and I am happy our young athletes rose to the occasion last weekend,” said Nyanhete.
Makanaka Mulopa and Shayne Manyathela claimed gold medals in the Girls Kumite 16 to 17 years Under-66kg division and the Boys Kumite 12 to 13 years category respectively.
Georgina Mhondera and Trinity Kotsi each secured silver medals. Mhondera lost to Mulopa in the final of the Junior Girls Kumite 16 to 17 years Under-66kg, settling for silver.
Kotsi also finished second in the Boys 16 to 17 years Kumite Under-68kg division. Venus Mariwande collected two bronze medals in the Girls Under-21 Kata and Kumite Under-61kg categories. Raylen Mohamed, Nicole Kadzombe, Rumbidzai Makamache, Shasmeen Yalabi and Tanyaradzwa Ziwira each won bronze medals, taking Team Zimbabwe’s total tally to 11.
Ziwira competed in the Senior Men’s category.
The regional karate competition forms part of the qualification process for the African union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games to be held from December 4 to 13 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Karate is one of the 12 sporting codes on the programme in Maputo.
“It was part of the qualification process together with the Youth League in Harare held in March this year…And our team stands a good chance of qualifying and sending a sizeable number of athletes,” Nyanhete said.
ZNKF president Joe Rugwete said; “I am very proud of this team. Eleven medals (two gold, two silver, and seven bronze) is an outstanding return from any championship. But what makes this performance particularly remarkable is the context in which it was achieved. This delegation endured a transit incident at the Santa Clara border between Namibia and Angola, which resulted in some delays and considerable stress before they even set foot on the tatami.
“That they composed themselves, arrived in Luanda, and then competed at this level speaks volumes about the character, resilience, and mental fortitude of our athletes. Every single athlete who stepped onto that mat represented Zimbabwe with distinction, and I congratulate them all,” said Rugwete.
Their next assignment is the African Karate Championships in Algeria in September, and Nyanhete has appealed for funding to enable the team’s participation at the continental event.
