By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
KITWE junior karateka Sylvelio Kazungo won the Zambia Martial Arts Association (ZaMAA) HIV/AIDS National Karate Championship held at the Italian School of Lusaka after excelling in both the Kata and Kumite categories.
Though Kazungo of Buchi Karate club did not win each of the respective categories after finishing second, ZaMAA officials felt he proved himself good enough to be the overall winner.
With Kazungo taking the top overall award, Stafos Mweemba of Mighty Conquerors and Samuel Kunda of Mikango watched in anguish especially after they were champions in Kata and Kumite categories respectively while Richard Makora finished third in both events.
In the boys’ Under-12 category, Njabulo Sibanda of Sikanze defeated Dalitso Daka of Mikango in the Kata final but lost to club mate Gregory Maimbolwa in Kumite final.
Mwape Kabamba emerged champion in the senior Kata event after outclassing club mate Charle Phiri with the vanquished Phiri going on to win the Kumite title after defeating Leonard Chabu while Kabamba finished third.
In the boys’ under-16 Kumite category, Daniel Muyangwa of Sikanze finished tops after beating Kennedy Kamwengo of Youth Armoury.
The women category accolade went to Annette Mphundu who won the Kata category after beating Justina Ndemena to be crowned champion.
Some of the clubs that took in the event were Chisala’s Dojo, Mighty Conquerors, Sikanze, Mikango and Buchi from Kitwe with two higher learning institutions in form of Zambian Open University and National institute of Public Administration.
ZaMAA technical director Moodlee Chola expressed happiness with the event saying it served its purpose and that it was good karatekas from the Copperbelt showed good signs of improvement.
“We have a good tournament and Sylvelio Kazungo of Buchi Karate Club was best karateka of the event coming out second in both junior kata and kumite. This was quite impressive from the young man and deserved his overall award,” Chola said.