Luanda: Angola will host an international karate tournament on Friday and Saturday, marking a significant return to the sports scene 20 years after organizing the 2005 African Championship. The event will be held at the Cidadela Pavilion in Luanda, featuring participation from seven African countries.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the competition will feature 120 karate fighters from across the continent. Angola, which secured a second-place finish in the 2005 African Championship, is once again in the spotlight as the event’s host. The tournament will begin with qualifying rounds on Friday, followed by semi-finals and finals on Saturday, as stated by Federation President Giliano Andr©.
Andr© emphasized that Angola aims to celebrate 50 years of independence by securing numerous medals during this tournament. The event also serves as a preparation platform for the national team ahead of the African Championships in Nigeria in July. The men’s team comprises Nario Lopes, Leonardo Mayala, Victor de Sousa, Rºben Daniel, Emlio da Cruz, and Henriques Daniel (group A); Rodrigo Longa, Carlos Longa, Joo Vieira, Pedro Bande, Emanuel Sebastio, and Gildo Ngumba.
The women’s team includes Cristina Castela, Elisa Fran§ois, Karina Nogueira, and Valquria Caquarta (group A); Rosineide Fernandes, Oneide Baptista, Laurinda Cauanda, and Eunice Joo (group B). Of the participating nations, Congo Brazzaville arrived on Wednesday, with the DRC and Morocco arriving Thursday morning. South Africa and Botswana are expected to arrive at 6 p.m. in Luanda, while Zambia is scheduled to arrive Friday morning.