Dennis Ndlovu
Sports Reporter
NUST Karate Club captain and national team member Senpai Blessing Amosi Matunya, affectionately known as “The Black Dragon,” is set to represent Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup Karate Tournament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prestigious tournament is scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matunya expressed immense pride in carrying the nation\u2019s flag at an international stage<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m honored to represent my country on such a big stage,\u201d he said, crediting his family and coaches for their unwavering support throughout his martial arts journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He highlighted the intense dedication and personal sacrifices it took to reach this level and with no formal employment, lack of financial muscle and tournament participation were some of the biggest challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaily exercise is exhausting, and physical effort requires financial support. It wasn\u2019t easy, but I took the risk\u2026To achieve my goal, I made significant sacrifices, including investing a lot of time to develop my talent,\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now focused on building his professional career and making a name for himself in martial arts, Senpai Matunya hopes to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo all my supporters, especially those who believe in God, I ask that you also believe in the capabilities of The Black Dragon,\u201d he said with conviction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m committed to putting on a great show and making you all proud\u2014in spirit. Oss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He first karate appearance was in 2016 at the Japanese Cup held at Liss Brown Arena in Harare, where he competed against athletes from South Africa, Zambia, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. And walked away with a gold medal in the individual category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023, he participated in the All Karate Styles Tournament in Botswana, which featured competitors from at least seven countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and Ethiopia. Although his individual campaign ended in the quarter-finals, Matunya helped Zimbabwe secure a bronze medal in the team event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fellow Karatekas praised “The Black Dragon”s spirit, dedication and work ethic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAmos has been pretty consistent, and this has been because of the rigorous training,\u201d said Sensei Dzikiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, he needs to step up on the national and regional front\u2014where boys are separated from men.\u201d cautiously warned Dzikiti.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Presley Chadenga, the NUST Minister of Sports, said, ‘It’s good for his professional exposure in the sport”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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