The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
JOE RUGWETE is a man on a mission.
He wants to put the Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU) back on top.
Only last week, the seasoned karateka and administrator took his first steps towards achieving that goal when the union made key administrative appointments.
“As a matter of background, I think it is key that you remember that we were once voted the best administered sport for three years in a row, and we want to go back to that level,” said Rugwete.
“When we got into power a few months back, we realised that the job required more than just four individuals and if we were to run this sport properly, we needed help.
“It is against this background that we decided to identify the key target areas, listed them with their job requirements and special needs, and then advertised to our members,’’ Rugwete said.
He said there was more to karate than people think.
“Karate is not just a sport, but a way of life, so it needs people with both the capabilities and the understanding of the sport.
“This is why we decided to keep it internal,” he said.
In addition to the recently elected executive, which includes his deputy Tawanda Mufundisi, Lizzie Mupure (secretary-general) and treasurer George Maposa, the first batch of key appointments were Tachavona Matewe, Conrad Mwanawashe, Tirivenyu Mutema, who will serve as marketing executive, media manager and legal advisor, respectively. Sharle Amoda and Malvern Chomusora have been appointed as team managers for the female and male teams (correspondingly), while Kumbirai Musinami was appointed technical director.
The ZKU leadership also appointed a new management committee, where Fradson Sahvi will serve as the committee’s technical director and former Zimbabwe senior team rugby coach Godwin “Jaws’’ Murambiwa has been appointed as marketing executive.
There will work with Midlands State University’s Oswelled Ureke (media manager), Elizabeth Mukabeta (female team manager) and David Mandengenda (male team manager), David Dube and Gerald Muusha (male and female coaches) and Innocent Remwa (Kata coach).
Rugwete also believes that the decentralisation of roles will also assist the ZKU in its outreach programmes, particularly in provinces.
