Mhlanga confident

BoxingEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
SO-KYOKUSHIN fighter Tangayi Mhlanga is convinced Zimbabwe will be among the best nations when they battle it out in the Shorin Kempo Kaikan tournament tomorrow in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Mhlanga, who won the 2015 first African World Fighting Kyokushinkai Organisation middleweight, is a member of the team that left the country yesterday for the competition.

The tournament, held annually, features mostly fighters from the Southern Africa Region.

Mhlanga will fight in the middleweight category.

Speaking just before the team’s departure yesterday, Mhlanga said they are ready for the task ahead of them.

“We have been preparing for this tournament and we are looking forward to winning. Even if I don’t win I am confident we will bring something back home.

“This is my first time competing in this tournament but I have been to other competitions in South Africa, Swaziland and Spain.

“Last year I came first in the middleweight at the World Fighting Kyokushinkai Africa Organisation.

“I am looking forward to coming back with a trophy.

“Competition is always tough because everyone coming for this tournament has been preparing but we will take up the challenge. We have been working hard for this event,” said Mhlanga.

The 26-year-old has been under the tutelage of former world champion, Samson Muripo, who is also travelling with the team.

Zimbabwe Karate Union national technical director full-contact karate, Kumbirai Musinami, yesterday said they have managed to send 20 athletes for the tournament.

“They are coming from different styles, it’s basically styles that practice full contact. The styles are actually contributing, it’s a bit of a challenge but we should commend their efforts.

“Basically most of the Southern Africa Region countries – Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland and Botswana are the usual participants. But because of the popularity of the tournament we have seen countries like Zambia and Malawi indicating that they want to participate,” said Musinami.

Musinami said they are using the tournament to prepare for the So-kyokushin World Open tournament in October.

“This is particularly important for us because these four countries are the key countries in full contact style and have always made this tournament highly competitive.

“We are taking our potential fighters to see how they swim in the deep waters. It’s a benchmark where we measure whether we are improving or not and whether we are developing new fighters.

“We have got Tangayi Mhlanga, Shadreck Chigombe, Pumulani Maphosa and Precious Kazembe, who is our women’s lightweight champion. These are all medal hopefuls. It’s part of our preparations for the So-kyokushin First World Open tournament in October, in Japan. We are preparing and they know that all eyes will be on them to see how they will do,” said Musinami.

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