Muripo wants to do even better Karateka Samson Muripo
karateka Samson Muripo

karateka Samson Muripo

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
SEASONED karateka Samson Muripo says he is hoping to continue from where he left off last year as he seeks to make a bigger impact on the international stage this year.
The former world champion is set to compete in two global events this year with the first one being the All-Japanese International tournament on April 26.

He will then take part in the World Championships in Durban, South Africa, on September 7 and 8.
Muripo had a fruitful year in 2013 as he scooped gold and silver medals at the So-Kyokushin Cup International tournament and a bronze medal at the World Kyokushin Championships.

His efforts on the international arena saw him being crowned the Sportsman of the Year at the Annual National Sports Awards held in December in Harare.

The former world champion said he has begun his preparations for the two competitions and is looking forward to a better performance this year.

“There is an International tournament in Japan on April 26 and then the World Championships in South Africa in September.
“Those are the two major events I have for this year. I don’t know if there are other events, but if some come up I am going to compete.

“There is going to be another tournament in Johannesburg in May but I doubt if I am going to participate because it will be soon after Japan.

“I’ve been training even during the holiday.
I am expecting better results than last year if I get resources from the sponsors,” Muripo said.

Muripo said although he was satisfied with his performance last year, he feels he can still do better.
“We had a good year and I did my best, some of the results were below my expectations so this year I am going to work hard to improve the quality of the medals.

“I did my best but the results in some of the events were not the best, I got bronze and silver and that is not the best, it should be gold,” said Muripo.

However, Muripo who is the chief instructor for the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe, said the So Kyokushin organisation vice-president, Shihan Daigo Oishi, who late last year indicated that he will be coming to Zimbabwe this year, will no longer be coming.

He said they were now hoping to hold a seminar with Japanese Shihan Jiyuu Shibata for the benefit of local karatekas.
Shibata came to Zimbabwe in November last year to conduct a seminar prior to the KUZ technical dan promotion.

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