ZKU inter-styles on

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
SEMI-CONTACT karatekas will today battle it out for slots into the national team set to represent the nation at the Zone Six Championships when they compete in the National Inter-styles Championships in Kwekwe.
The tournament is organised by the Zimbabwe Karate Union and the seniors will compete in team events while the juniors fight for honours in individual events.

ZKU president, Joe Rugwete, said they were expecting a competitive event since the fighters will be fighting for places into the national team.

And some of the styles that have confirmed participation include Urakashi, Jindokai, JKA Shotokan and Kimura Shukokai.

“Everything is in order. This is our first local event for this year but we have had regional and international tournaments.

“And competition is going to be high because people are looking for slots for the Zone Six championships.

“You will also find that we have youngsters who could not compete late last year because of exam commitments so most of them will be back.

“We also have a senior instructor, Amos Chihlava who had been suspended he will be making a comeback,” said Rugwete.

Rugwete said they are going to host another tournament next month as they intensify their Zone Six preparations.

Meanwhile, seasoned karateka, Samson Muripo and Naison Chituwa are expected to take part in the All-Japanese tournament starting today in Tokyo, Japan.

Muripo left the country on Monday while Chituwa was expected to arrive in Japan late yesterday after he finally got funds to cater for the trip. He will battle it out in the Open category.

So-Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe technical director, Kumbirai Musinami, on Thursday confirmed that they were now going to be represented by Muripo and Chituwa.

“We managed to get some more funds for one fighter. At least now we have two people who are representing us but we still appeal to the corporate world to assist us because we still have some events. We have the World Championships in South Africa in September,” said Musinami.

Musinami expressed confidence in the two fighters as he said these are some of the best karatekas in the country.

“I am sure the two we have sent are the best. We have confidence in them, Muripo is a great fighter and our hopes are high because preparations were thorough and he was in his peak form when he left.

“We hope to see him all the way to the finals although there may be some funny refereeing. He has done it in the past under such circumstances so we don’t expect anything less.

“It’s all the support we have given him that will propel him to go all the way,” said Musinami.

Last year Muripo raised the country’s flag high when he was crowned champion in the World So-kyokushin Cup International tournament heavyweight category. He went on to clinch a silver medal in the super heavyweight category at the same event.