By Yvonne Sakala –

ZAMBIA’s participation in the Zone Six Karate championship has forced the Nakambala Karate Open championship, which was scheduled for this weekend in Mazabuka, to be deferred to next month.
Nakambala Karate club secretary Kelvin Mubita said in an interview yesterday that the championship had been postponed because some karatekas were part of the national team at the Zone six Karate championships in Zimbabwe.
Mubita said the new date for the Open tournament had been set for June 11, at the same venue.
“We have postponed our Open championship to June 11 because a big number of fighters whom we invited to take part have gone with the national team for Zone six games in Zimbabwe.
“We thought it will be fair enough to push the championship forward to allow even those karatekas that have gone to Zimbabwe to participate. Nothing has changed, everything remains the same,” Mubita said.
He said the club was ready to host the tournament, adding that even if the fighters did not go for the Zone Six championship the club would have still hosted a successful tournament.
He said the postponement of the championship would allow his karatekas at the club to have ample time to prepare for the competition against the cream of the country who are out.
He said the competition was expected to attract 10 clubs and that so far, eight clubs had confirmed participation namely Buchi, Zamefa, Chawama, Kamuchanga, Chililabombwe, Chingola, Mufulira, and Kalewa.