Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Karate Federation (ZNKF) has started selecting the team to represent the country at the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Karate Championships in Durban, South Africa, next month.
ZNKF said it’s going to be holding a national squad training session at Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe as a way of kick-starting preparations.
“We will have a squad training camp on April 9. All provincial technical directors should invite athletes who participated and excelled in at least one of the last three tournaments, being the 2022 Japanese Ambassador’s Karate Tournament, the Kurai Open Invitation, and the just ended Clash of the Titans.
“We emphasise that only participants from the last three tournaments shall be considered for final selection into the national team,” ZNKF revealed.
AUSC Region 5 karate president Joe Rugwete said staging of the games is a welcome relief for the region.
“For the past two years, we have had to postpone the regional showcase largely due to Covid-19 induced restrictions in all member countries, as well as for the safety of our athletes and related stakeholders.
As we gather in Durban, may we be reminded that Covid-19 is still out there, and so I call upon all heads of delegations to pay particular attention to the WHO recommended preventive and containment measures to protect our athletes,” said Rugwete.
“This is a special event for the development of the region after we have secured, in conjunction with UFAK, the services of a WKF expert coach, Professor Antonio Oliva Seba Sensei, who will conduct a seminar for the coaches from the region.
“It is my hope that the presidents of all member national federations shall grab this golden opportunity and send as many of their local coaches as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, ZNFK received a massive boost ahead of a heavily congested calendar after landing a huge sponsorship package of $675 465 from OK Zimbabwe Limited.
The federation immediately used the sponsorship package to settle their membership and affiliation fees to the World Karate Federation.
They will also pay their affiliation fees to the Union des Fédérations Africaines de Karaté and the African Sports Council Region Five Karate Federation.
– @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter