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ZKU executive face huge task
By Ellina Mhlanga
THE newly-elected Zimbabwe Karate Union executive has a mammoth task ahead of them as they try to revamp the sport and create unity among the different styles that are being practiced in the country.
Currently there are 16 karate styles that are being practiced in the country among them kyokushin, dentokan, seidokan, kimora shukokan, shitoryu, sankukai, bino-ryu, gojuryu, urakash and JKA shotokan.
However, the sport has continued to suffer both at national and international levels due to lack of unity among the people that are involved in the sport and lack of support from the local corporate world.
Despite having many talented fighters, among them Samson Muripo who made history by becoming the first African to win the World Kyokushin middleweight championship, a lot still needs to be done if all styles are to reach such great heights.
The new ZKU president Simba Chikutu, who is a third dan black belt holder, has called for unity among the karate family.
Chikutu urged the stakeholders to bury their differences as the national association aims to revive the sport.
"It is an honour to be given an opportunity to hold such a high position, it means people have put their trust in me and I hope I will deliver.
"Over the years we have been struggling to bring all karatekas together and the referees and that only comes when we put our house in order.
"As we get into office, our mandate is to unite the karate family and encourage everyone involved in karate to come on board.
"So many people are practicing karate, but we have few karatekas on the board.
"Currently, karate is more concentrated on style level than at national level because there are structures encouraging people in those different styles.
"However, some styles feel inferior to others and they need to recognise that we are a family.
"There is need for interaction among the different styles and that is how we can develop at national level," said Chikutu.
The association is yet to appoint a technical director and a marketing executive and Chikutu said they are looking at someone who would be able to bring all stakeholders together.
"There has been a lot of noise in karate and we need a person who is going to help end the differences that are there.
"The technical director and the marketing executive are supposed to talk to people and amend any anomalies so that we will be able to move on. They should also work with their colleagues in the provincial structures," said Chikutu.
The 39-year-old administrator said the country does not have a national team in place and they need to start working from the lower rankings to come up with a team comprising good fighters from all over the country.
"We do not have a national team. We have people who have been part of the team and that is why we are calling on everyone to come on board, including the seniors in karate such as Douglas Chivandire, to assist us so that we can come up with a strong team with quality fighters.
"The technical director is not going to impose the team, but will have to co-ordinate with provincial directors to come up with the team.
"We have five active provinces and we still need to revamp the structures in those areas so that more people can come into practice and build structures in the other five provinces that are not practicing," said Chikutu.
The association has also been hit by financial problems, failing to hold local tournaments and sending teams to international events.
"We have failed to participate in international events because we do not have the funds. In the past we have been sending fighters who can afford to pay for their own expenses but we no longer want to do that.
"We need talented people and as the association we should be able to cater for all the expenses and we hope the corporate world will come on board," said Chikutu.
Chikutu said there is need for people to change their attitude towards the sport as it has been wrongly associated with violence.
"Karate has been associated with violence, however, it is those people who practice karate for a short while who create problems in the community but those who have been in karate for some time understand that it is a sport and they have the discipline.
"We encourage our members to have an open mind and to be responsible community members. We do not want people to think that we are beggars," said Chikutu.
Chikutu has been involved in karate for the past 29 years and he practices the kimora shukokai style.
The national association’s vice president Colleta Mhishi and Chikutu will take part in an advanced course in sport management course organised by the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee set to begin next month.
"I started training in karate when I was 10 years old and have been in administration for the past five years.
"I started as a marketing executive and I believe karate is a passion sport, it helps the whole body.
"We are going to take part in an advanced sports management course together with the vice president and it will help us to run the sport professionally," said Chikutu. |
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