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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE are expected to field a big team at the Shorin Kempo Kaikan Regional Karate tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa this month as they prepare for the All-Africa So-Kyokushin later this year.

The annual competition, scheduled for May 28, features fighters from the Southern Africa Region and Zimbabwean representatives have been competing over the years.

However, this year they are hoping to send a big team with more than 50 karatekas already making their final preparations for the competition.

Zimbabwe Karate Union technical director full-contact, Kumbirai Musinami, said they are using the tournament as a platform to prepare for upcoming bigger events.

“We are looking forward to sending all of them. We are still struggling with funds but we are working flat out to send them all. Either some will travel by bus or some will go by other means we would have devised.

“We are still working on that, but all the fighters on the list are ready and we would want to send all of them because it is a preparatory event for the All-Africa tournament in August. And we are already starting preparations for the international tournament we are hosting next year.

“We are expecting more than 15 countries, so it will be good for us to have them all participating at Thokoza because they form the core of the team,” said Musinami.

Musinami noted that the tournament has been instrumental in the development and growth of the sport locally.

“It has been contributed immensely. It’s one of the most competitive tournaments on the continent. And our participation has focused on grooming our athletes, like Tangai Mhlanga, we groomed him through that tournament.

“Brian Chiringa, who has represented the country at international level, he grew through this tournament.

“So it’s a key tournament for Zimbabwe. It’s particularly important for us to compete and for our boys to have a feel of how it is (competing) at international level,” said Musinami.

Musinami said they are going to field athletes from the juniors section, women’s and the seniors’ categories.

The fighters were drawn from different full contact style to make up the national team.

Some of the fighters in the team include seasoned fighters such as Kelly Mtisi, Tinashe Matika, Tungamirai Madzimbamuto, Tendai Chaparadza, Shadreck Chigombe and Jean-Claude Mufundisi, who is the youngest.

“Jean-Claude Mufundisi is the youngest, just 11 years-old and he is talented. We hope he will bring a medal and it’s also time for him to grow.

“We have drawn fighters from the different full contact karate styles. So it’s a complete Zimbabwe team and all the participants have been coming for squad trainings.

“We have been screening them, those that we felt still needed time to improve and maybe next time they will have a chance to participate,” said Musinami.

Mtisi and Chigombe were in Japan last month for the 47th All-Japan Karate tournament.