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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Karate Union president Paul Danisa is hopeful there will be an exciting Champion of Champions tournament early next month. He has reeled that last year’s sponsors, AfricaBet, are on board for this year’s edition as well. The tournament, dubbed AfricaBet Champion of Champions, will be staged at the City Sports Centre on December 2 with both full contact and semi-contact styles taking part.

Danisa confirmed yesterday AfricaBet, who sponsored last year’s edition, are on board again for the upcoming tournament although he could not reveal the total sponsorship package.

“It’s actually (dubbed) AfricaBet Champion of Champions and the venue is City Sports Centre. So it’s going ahead on December 2. We are improving the quality of the competition we use to select our teams for next year. It gives everyone a chance. The fact that we have that sponsorship helps in securing the venue and moving of equipment . . . in terms of selection it attracts the best athletes and gives everyone the opportunity to participate, we have everyone at our disposal and we can select the best,” said Danisa.

The annual event, which brings together karatekas from both semi and full contact, is one of the biggest tournaments in the country and marks the end of the ZKU season. It is also a selection event for national teams by the technical directors and their teams. And most athletes look forward to it as they battle it out for places in the national teams.

Most of the styles are already gearing up for the event and IFK branch chief, Tawanda Mufundisi, said this year will see them fielding more young fighters as part of their junior development programme. “We are ready for this one. We are looking forward to send over 25 fighters from IFK but mostly juniors because as a style we have shifted our focus to juniors since they are our future. Since 2016 we have been focusing more on juniors and women.

“We have been preparing for the Champion of Champions since the beginning of the year because it’s an annual event and it very important, it brings a lot of exposure locally and also promote the ZKU calendar which we respect. So we will make sure that our athletes do very well.

“Last year we did very well, we fielded 14 athletes and nine of them got medals. So, as usual, we are hoping to scoop everything on offer and we are looking forward to a very good number of people coming and an exciting tournament,” said Mufundisi.

Some of their juniors expected to take part include Tafadzwa Lindadi, Jayden Mlalazi, Alicia Mufundisi and Pride Zonda.