Kickboxing association prepares for African champs

Sport
By Brian NkiwaneTHE Kickboxing Association of Zimbabwe is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the African Championships set for Madagascar from April 23 to 28.

The association will not be taking the African Championships lightly as it is part of the qualification process together with the World Championships for the new competition, the Combat Games.

According to Kickboxing chairman Tony Kamangira, the Combat Games are rated superior to the World Championships.The games will be hosted by Turkey next year.

“We are taking these preparations seriously because the fighters who are going to impress in the African Championships and the World Championships will automatically qualify for the Combat Games which are rated superior to any kickboxing competition,” Kamangira said.

Kamangira added that the association has already identified six kickboxers that include Brighton Tangata, Nicholas Kurimira, Absalom Chiturimani, Ronald Deketeke, Forget Murazvu and Lloyd Chimhandamba (both from Beitbridge).

“We are supposed to travel with a team of 10 male kickboxers and we are also planning to include three female kickboxers. So for us to have four more kickboxers in the male category, we have lined up two major events. Our selection process is still open to every capable fighter.”

The association will hold a selection event dubbed “Battle of the Champions” in Mutare on February 25 before winding off with another one dubbed “Top 10 Best Fighters” in Beitbridge.

The events are set to be attended by kickboxers from all over the country so as to give the association a chance to choose the cream.“We are going to widen our net in order to give other upcoming fighters a chance to showcase what they are capable of doing. There are good kickboxers out of Harare or Bulawayo.

“That will be our final selection. We are optimistic that by that time, we would have identified 10 male fighters and the three female fighters.”Kamangira said there are three female kickboxers who they are targeting who come from  Matabeleland North, Masvingo and Harare.

“We have watched these ladies fight, they are extremely good. We hope they will be in shape by the time we travel to Madagascar.”

The team will also travel to South Africa for the annual Great North One to be held in Pretoria in March. They will use the annual event to fine-tune their preparations

“We participate in this event every year, so we are looking forward to using it to fine-tune our fighters,” Kamangira said.