THE Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU) will hold their annual inter-provincial championships in Bulawayo this weekend as they continue to revive the sport in the country.
BY HENRY MHARA
The championships have been slated for the ZRP Drill Hall on Saturday.
ZKU president Joe Rugwete, who was late last month elected secretary-general of the Zone Six Karate Union, said they were looking forward to an improved tournament, after the successful hosting of the tournament in Gweru last year.
“The ZKU is excited to host this tournament in Bulawayo as we continue with our efforts to decentralise and spread our lovely sport to all corners of Zimbabwe. We are expecting teams from all active provinces and we are determined to do our utmost to bring about the best possible conditions to make this competition a memorable occasion.
“The tournament together with all other competitions provides the technical team with an opportunity to identify and nurture potential talent in preparation for national team representation. For this reason we expect a high level of competition and entertaining event,” said Rugwete.
ZKU technical director Paul Danisa said each province would be allowed to field at least three teams per category. Danisa added that there would be a referees’ course on Friday.
Karate has been on a rebound since the coming in of Rugwete and his board into office last year.
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Besides successfully hosting this tournament in Gweru last year, Rugwete has managed to send fighters to the Zone Six Championships in Botswana and world championships in France last year.
Only last month, ZKU had karatekas at the 2nd World Goju Karate Championships in South Africa where the team did the nation proud by scooping seven medals to finish seventh out of 19 nations on the medal table.
ZKU are also preparing a team to take part in the 2013 World Karate Junior and Cadet Championships to be held in Spain this November. A team of eight athletes has already been selected.
