New karate body formed

06 Sep, 2020 - 00:09 0 Views
New karate body formed

The Sunday Mail

Sports Editor

WINDS of change are sweeping across karate, with a new federation being formed following its registration by the Sport and Recreation Commission and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.

The Zimbabwe National Karate Federation will now become the major Olympic Sport Organisation for karate in the country with the new body immediately attracting some of the sport’s top administrators to its ranks.

Seasoned administrator Joe Rugwete, who was the Zimbabwe Karate Union president, has since quit to join the ZNKF along with Lizzie Mupure, who will deputise him while Tirivenyu Mutema is the inaugural secretary-general.

Rugwete gave The Sunday Mail Sport an insight into developments in karate and outlined the differences between the new body and ZKU.

“The major differences are that:

We use different competition rules and regulations from those that ZKU uses

We participate in Regional games, African games, World Championships and the Olympics while the ZKU does not

We affiliate to one International Federation while ZKU members all affiliate to different International organisations,’’ Rugwete said.

In his resignation letter on Thursday, Rugwete paid tribute to ZKU, which has won accolades at the Annual National Sports Awards.

“It is with sincere regret that I am obliged to tender my resignation from membership of the Zimbabwe Karate Union, where I was also serving as president, on account of joining the newly-registered Zimbabwe National Karate Federation, which has been formed to cater for karate styles that affiliate to the World Karate Federation (WKF), the Union des Fédérations Africaines de Karaté (UFAK), the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Karate Federation (AUSC R5KF), and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC).

“Due to the Statutes of the WKF, in particular Article 5.15, which prohibit National Federations from being affiliated with any karate organisation not recognised by the WKF, I find it inapt to continue as a member and president of this prestigious organisation.

“I am to offer my resignation with immediate effect. I am however, available at 48 hours’ notice, at your convenience, for a handover-takeover exercise with your executive committee. Please be assured of my appreciation for the relationship I have enjoyed with the rest of the ZKU members. Convey my appreciation and best wishes to all the worthy members of the national executive committee,’’ he wrote.

Mutema also weighed in and said the new federation is now working on setting up an Athletes Commission in line with international practices.

“Former non-full contact karate members of the Zimbabwe Karate Union (ZKU) have formed the Zimbabwe National Karate Federation (ZNKF), which has successfully applied for registration with the Sport and Recreation Commission. The members of the ZNKF have since withdrawn their membership from the ZKU which is now effectively the national sport association that controls the practice of full contact karate. The ZNKF has been formed to ensure that the National Association complies with the statutes of the World Karate Federation (WKF), which bar its members from having sporting relationships with other karate associations that are not recognised by the WKF.

“This move will guarantee continued participation of Zimbabwean karatekas at the Regional Games, African Games, World Championships, and the Olympics. The maiden members and affiliates of the ZNKF are Bino Ryu, Dentokan, ECKI, Goju Kai, Jindokai, Kimura Shukokai International, Okinawa Shorin Ryu Shorinkan, Sankukai Dragons, Shito Ryu Karate-do Kofukan, Jindokai Shotokan, JKA Shotokan, JSKA Shotokan, Karate Nomichi Shotokan, and Urakashi Karate Practice. The founding executive committee includes Joe Rugwete (president), Lizzie Mupure (vice president), and Tirivenyu Mutema (general-secretary). A suitably qualified treasurer will be appointed soon, as well as committee members that will ensure a gender balanced leadership. The athletes will also vote for the Athletes’ Commission Chairperson, who shall also become a member of the executive committee,’’ the federation said.

The new federation also believe that their coming into being helped Zimbabwe avoid the risk of being expelled by the World Karate Federation for flouting international regulations.

“Our message to potential members is that — the style of karate that one pursues is a personal choice. Decisions are based on different goals for different people, but if you’re looking for an investment into long-term sport karate development with an opportunity to compete at prestigious fora such as the Olympics, African Games and World Championships, the ZNKF provides such an opportunity.

“The message to the ZKU is that we have not abandoned you. We have done what needed to be done in the most amicable manner. Our members constituted 60 percent of the total ZKU membership. When the risk of being expelled from the World Karate Federation emerged, we could have chosen to amend the ZKU constitution to exclude full Contact styles, but that would have caused unnecessary battles with our colleagues, whom we have worked with harmoniously for more than three decades.

“They have a solid association, they have competent administrators in the likes of Steve Charandura, Steve Mudawarima, George Maphosa, and competent technical people like Tendai Marange, Tawanda Mfundisi, Kumbirai Musinami and many more. So we are confident that they have the capacity to continue the good work that was being done with their participation,’’ Mutema said.

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