The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE National Karate Federation (ZNKF) president Joe Rugwete has saluted their affiliate club Kurai Kofukan for staging the Open Championships, which are set for Chitungwiza at the end of this month.
The Kurai Open Karate Championships are scheduled for Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex on October 30. They will be the first major event for the sport since Government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission, lifted the Covid-19-induced suspension on sporting activities.
It comes at a time when the ZNKF have been admitted to the World Karate Federation.
Karate also featured at the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
These developments have not only left the Rugwete purring, but also optimistic of a bigger and better future for the sport in the country and on the international arena.
Rugwete said karate, just like other sporting disciplines, has had to rebuild from the ashes of nearly two years of inactivity due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The former Zimbabwe Karate Union president said it was important for organisers and participants to strictly observed all Covid-19 protocols as outlined by the regulator.
“The Zimbabwe karate family affiliated to the World Karate Federation is thrilled, as we resume competition following months of inactivity due to life-saving interventions by the Government to mitigate the effects of Covid-19,” said Rugwete.
“As we converge at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex, we must remain mindful that Covid-19 is still with us and we must follow all Covid-19 protocols that have been approved by the Sports and Recreation Commission, which are centred on masking up, washing/sanitising hands, and maintaining social distance at all times.
“This tournament comes at a time that the Zimbabwe National Karate Federation has just adopted several policies and procedures, which include the tournament hosting policy and the national team selection policy, and this invitational tournament that has been organised by our affiliate, Shito Ryu Karate-do Kofukan Zimbabwe, presents a good opportunity for us to test these policies and procedures as we move towards holding world-class local events.”
Kurai Kofukan club chairperson Gerald Muusha said he was confident of a successful return of the sport.
He paid tribute to those who worked to put together the Open Championships.
“The year 2021 is special for karate as it was showcased at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo for the first time. It is in this special year that we are hosting the second edition of the Kurai Open Karate Championship after successfully hosting it in 2019.
“In the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect lie the basis for this championships as we seek to bring together the karate family after over a year of inactivity caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This championship aims to make and cement our friendship from one end to the other and is an opportunity for excellence to be witnessed as athletes compete to prove themselves before the national caching unit, which shall be considering athletes to represent the country in upcoming regional, continental and international events to be held this year,” he said.
He thanked stakeholders such as Kurai Organising Committee, Kofukan Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe National Karate Federation, the Sports and Recreation Commission, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, athletes, parents, guardians and other stakeholders who are involved in organising the event.
