Hundreds of South African athletes are expected to undergo upgrading in different categories to attain senior Brown, Green as well as junior Blue-Black Belts at an annual grading ceremony on December 4 and 5.The Cape Town grading will be followed by Black Belt grading in Gauteng six days later.Chairman of All Japan Kyokushin Southern Africa Shihan Bas Van Stenis confirmed Muripo’s participation as one of the judges at both the Cape Town and Gauteng grading.“Samson Muripo is on the grading panel of Southern Africa Kyokushin Union and is an important judge at our annual grading,” said Van Stenis.Apparently Muripo, who is the Kyokushin Union of Zimbabwe technical director, successfully conducted the grading for local karatekas last Saturday at Raylton Sports Club which saw 27 athletes up-lifted to different levels.They include Gift Mupondi who attained the Junior Brown Belt and Allan Mafukeni who kissed the senior Green Belt.Muripo said he was looking forward to the events in South Africa as he continues to play an ambassadorial role for the country.“I am looking forward to it and hopefully it will be successful,” said Muripo.Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU) stepped up their preparations for the Zone Six and All Africa Games next year by hosting Botswana in a tournament last week.Samantha Mutiti and Chiccah Ndiripo both won gold medals in the women’s kata and women’s individual respectively.Winston Nyanhete won silver in the men’s open category. But despite largely submitting to the Botswana Thebe team, ZKU president Simba Chikutu believes they have a strong team which can stand its ground in the continental games in Mozambique,“The Botswana tournament served as an eye-opener on what we need to concentrate on towards the All-Africa Games,” said Chikutu. “We have a very strong team and we are confident of doing well in both the Zone Six and the All-Africa Games.”The Botswana team was under the tutelage of Zimbabwean sensei Gondo.
Taddy Manyepo
