Sports Reporter
Zimbabwe Taekwondo Association (ZTA) president Benson Mutongi Zvizvayi has appealed for sponsorship to enable three locally–based athletes to compete at the Africa Series Championships finals set for Côte d’Ivoire, warning that missing the event would undermine the athletes’ hard-earned progress.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 3rd Vipers Taekwondo Championship in Kwekwe recently Zvizvayi said the association was struggling to raise funds for several upcoming international competitions, including the Africa Series finals.
“We have three athletes who qualified for the Africa Series Championships after six tough regional events held in Mozambique,” he said. “My heart bleeds if the athletes fail to attend because they have worked hard, and we will be held responsible if we fail to send them. We are still struggling, but by God’s grace I believe we might be able to send them. I take this opportunity to appeal to Zimbabwe’s potential sponsors to assist.”
Zvizvayi said lack of funding remained the biggest obstacle for athletes hoping to compete beyond national borders.
The ZTA president was in Kwekwe to attend the third edition of the Vipers Taekwondo Championship, which drew more than 100 competitors, including athletes from Botswana and Côte d’Ivoire. The visiting Ivorian team, he said, was still en route after experiencing visa-related delays between Johannesburg and Zimbabwe.
He praised Vipers Taekwondo Club for hosting a rapidly growing national-level competition and for investing in modern electronic scoring technologies that meet global standards — equipment the national association itself does not yet have.
“Vipers is one of the most vibrant clubs we have in Zimbabwe. It is showing an example of what is possible. It is actually the first club to have electronic scoring systems, which even we as the national association are still working to secure,” he said.
Zvizvayi added that the championship is significant because it accommodates all age groups — from children to cadets, juniors and seniors — helping develop athletes throughout the pathway to elite competition.
He also outlined Zimbabwe’s packed calendar over the coming weeks, including junior championships in Angola and the inaugural Under-21 World Championships in Nairobi, where Zimbabwe will field two athletes, both from Vipers.
Despite these opportunities, he said the association risks failing to fully participate without urgent sponsorship.
“We are really proud of the progress our athletes are making, but we need support for them to compete internationally,” he said.
The 3rd Vipers Taekwondo Championship continues to grow as one of Zimbabwe’s leading tournaments, attracting regional participation and strengthening local athlete development.
