Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association’s hopes of sending a developmental squad at the upcoming Libreville International Kickboxing Championships received a double whammy due to financial constraints.
Report by Don Makanyanga
The event is set for June 7-9 in Gabon.
Despite the drawback, the association managed to secure funding for two fighters who will represent the country at the tournament. Team Zimbabwe, comprising Brighton Tangata and Terrence Munemo, will now leave the country tomorrow.
The association’s president, Tonny Kamangira, who is also the team’s coach, told Standardsport that efforts to expose upcoming kickboxers received a heavy blow after the association failed to secure sponsorship to send a full contingent.
“Our plans to give exposure to young fighters had a major drawback as we failed to secure enough sponsorship as an association. We would have wanted them to have a feel of international bouts as we prepare for the World Championships later this year,” Kamangira said.
Kamangira said the country would now have to bank on the experienced duo of Tangata and Munemo to fly the country’s flag high and consolidate its position as a kickboxing powerhouse during the upcoming tournament.
“The preparations for the tournament have been going on very well as the guys have been in camp for the past four months. I hope they will go and harvest as many medals as possible,” Tangata will participate in the welterweight, while Munemo will participate in the middleweight category.
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Kamangira said following mo-nths of intense preparations on hand techniques, endurance and fitness, the kickboxers are physically and mentally prepared for the challenge that awaits them in Libreville. “With our past experience at the highest level of the game where we narrowly lost to our opponents at the All Africa Games early this year, we focused our training on endurance, fitness and hand techniques.
I believe the guys are now physically and mentally ready for the challenge,” said the kickboxing boss.
The international tournament will be used as part of the country’s preparations ahead of the World Championships and Compact championships to be held later this year.
