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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AFTER spending most of last year without competitive tournaments on the local scene, the Zimbabwe So-kyokushin Union have promised to give their athletes more competition this year.

They will kick-start their season on the local scene with the juniors tournament to be held today in Highfield and will be graced by Shihan Bastiaan Lindert van Stenis from South Africa.

Participants will compete in six weight categories from Under-20kg to over 65kg.

So-Kyokushin Union technical director Kumbirai Musinami said they have a number of local tournaments lined up for this year.

“We are trying to change that scenario where we don’t have local tournaments because it is through these local tournaments that we groom these athletes.

“So this year we are going to have a number of tournaments from different kyokushin styles and as So-kyokushin.

“Locally this is our first tournament of the year, regionally we had a tournament last week where we sent two athletes, Tangai Mhlanga and Shadreck Chigombe,” said Musinami.

Mhlanga won the first African World Fighting Kyokushikai Organisation middleweight belt in South Africa and Chigombe walked away with bronze.

Musinami said today’s tournament is open to all full-contact styles willing to take part.

“We are the hosts but all other full contact styles are invited. When they host their competitions we also go there to compete and it’s just to add flavour to the competition

“Mutare have confirmed their participation, same as Kadoma and Chegutu. We are also expecting fighters from Bulawayo and for the juniors it’s the first time we are having participants from Bulawayo.

“Although they may be few it will be good to have people from Bulawayo.

“Juniors are quite interesting whenever we have juniors competition is stiff, the enthusiasm is there so we don’t expect this tournament to be any less.

“We expect it to be highly competitive, these are the tournaments we use to select fighters for regional events if there are any so everyone will be trying to prove themselves.

“As for our categories we will see with the children that we have because sometimes they will be too young, so we have got room for adjustment where need arises,” said Musinami.

The So-kyokushin Union is also hoping to host an All-Africa tournament that will feature fighters from across the continent in Chitungwiza in July as part of their efforts to expose local athletes to a higher level of competition.