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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Karate Union will this month hold their National Inter-styles Championships in Kwekwe as part of their preparations for the forthcoming Zone Six Championships.The tournament is set for the last weekend of this month at Kwekwe Sports Club with all provinces expected to compete as the national association steps up their preparations for the regional competition to be held in Lusaka from June 26 to 29.

ZKU president, Joe Rugwete, said they will be using the competition to prepare their fighters for the regional tournament and have already selected a team of 60 karatekas and 10 officials that will represent the country in Zambia.

“We are having a lot of things that are happening, we have the technical appointments we did and those structures are in place and already functioning. We have the inter-styles championships on the last weekend of April at Kwekwe Sports Club that is also part of those preparations.

“And, at least, once a month members of the technical teams from all provinces will come and train with the technical director, Paul Danisa, and will be assisted by Eugene Moody and Simba Mazhata in Harare.

“Where we have the opportunity to go to provinces we will go. They will be upgraded on the new rules among other things and go back to their bases. They will have specific areas they will be focusing on.

“We started selecting the team a long time ago and we have a total of 60 athletes and 10 officials .We are hoping to send them all, it will be the juniors, seniors and females,” said Rugwete.

The ZKU president said they have a tough task ahead as they are expecting stiff competition during the championships from South Africa and Botswana.

“We will be facing stiffer competition this year, the main reason is in the past year competing countries (within the region) have been sending their teams to Europe and Asia for further training and development.

“Botswana has been to Japan and are going to Egypt for camping and South Africa were in Greece for the World Youth Training Seminar,” said Rugwete.
Other countries expected to participate in Zambia are Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland.