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Lovemore Zigara Sports Correspondent
HARARE kickboxing fans are in for a treat when over 50 amateur and professionals descend on the capital for a tournament dubbed Face your Fears Night Fight on Saturday. The tournament will also see amateur boxers under the auspices of the Zimbabwe Boxing Federation (ZBF) trading leather.

Zimbabwe Kickboxing Association (ZKA) president Tony Kamangira said the tournament is set to become a monthly event to be held in different parts of the country as the association seeks to popularise the sport.

He said roping in boxers was part of their awareness campaign to showcase the difference between the two sports.

“We are holding a Face your Fears Night Fight at Hellenic Sports Club in Harare on Saturday where there will be over 25 kickboxing bouts.

This is part of ZKA efforts to identify and nurture talent. The tournament will also become a monthly tournament to be rotated among provinces as we spread the sport.

At the moment we have structures in nine provinces, with the exception of Bulawayo,” said Kamangira.

“We have also partnered the ZBF, who will second their boxers as part of our efforts to differentiate the two sports and also for the fans to appreciate both sporting disciplines.”

Some professional kickboxers expected to battle it out for honours include Brighton Tangata, Norbet Baziyoni, Fungai Sikelo and Mutare-based Knowledge Nyamhoka Jr, among others.

The Beitbridge trio of Farai Moyo, James Muranda and Worry Muranda is also expected to make an impression.

Kamangira said the provincial tournaments will be used to identify those that will represent the country at the sport’s world championships to be held in Ireland in November.

Apart from the monthly tournaments, the association will also take advantage of invitational tournaments that are held in South Africa on a monthly basis. — @lavuzigara1