MBABANE – STANLIB Eswatini has increased its sponsorship of the Oyama Champ of Champs Karate Tournament to E47 000, with competitors from five countries expected in Eswatini.
The tournament, scheduled for November 28 at Mavuso Sports Centre in Manzini, is expected to attract karatekas from South Africa’s Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Botswana, alongside local fighters.
Oyama Kyokushin Karate Eswatini President Mfanafuthi Vilakati confirmed the anticipated international participation, saying the competition would provide an opportunity for local karatekas to measure their abilities against regional opponents.
The sponsorship was unveiled at STANLIB’s premises in Mbabane, with the company increasing its contribution from E35 000 last year to E47 000 for this year’s edition.
The E12 000 increase represents a 34.3 per cent rise in financial support, reinforcing a partnership between the Investment Company and Oyama that has supported the development of karate in Eswatini over the years.
Vilakati described the sponsorship as an important investment in the sustainability of the sport, particularly with the tournament also catering for cadets and junior karatekas.
“Personally, this is very important to me because it speaks to the sustainability of the sport. It also provides an opportunity for young stars to join Oyama and develop their talent,” he said.
He said the expected participation of international competitors would add another dimension to the tournament, giving local athletes an opportunity to test themselves against fighters from neighbouring countries.
Vilakati also applauded STANLIB for its continued commitment, noting that the company’s contribution extended beyond the annual tournament to supporting Oyama and dressing national teams.
“We are grateful and humbled to be sponsored by them. We urge the nation to support STANLIB because they have demonstrated their willingness to plough back into the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council (ESRC) representative Zama Tsabedze welcomed the sponsorship, saying contributions of this nature were vital to the growth of combat sports in the kingdom.
Tsabedze said the support would enable organisers to stage a well-run event, provide karatekas with a platform to compete and inspire young people to embrace discipline, excellence and healthy living through sport.
He said the sponsorship also reflected the importance of partnerships between the private sector and the sporting community.
“ESRC is pleased to see STANLIB standing alongside sport development in Eswatini. We encourage Oyama Kyokushin to honour the agreed sponsorship benefits and provide a report on the event, including its outcomes and the visibility your brand received,” he said.
Tsabedze further expressed the council’s desire for continued cooperation with STANLIB in advancing sport development in the country, while wishing the athletes and organisers a successful championship.
STANLIB Business Development Manager Mkhosi Mbhamali said the company’s investment in sport was driven by its commitment to shared excellence.
Mbhamali said the same principles that helped businesses grow, particularly focus and consistency, were equally important in developing athletes and sporting organisations.
“We help our clients grow their businesses through focus and consistency. These are the same values we believe are important in developing sport. We hope our partnership with Oyama will contribute to its continued growth and the development of future champions,” he said.
He said the company was proud to contribute E47 000 towards the competition, describing the sponsorship as an investment in future champions.
“As an investment company, we are proud to invest in future champions,” Mbhamali said.
The tournament will begin at 9am, featuring four male divisions comprising 60kg, 70kg, 80kg and open weight, while female competitors will contest the 55kg, 65kg and open-weight categories.
The junior competition will feature under-10, under-12, under-14 and under-16 divisions, providing a platform for young fighters to showcase their skills.
Fighters will pay an entry fee of E200, while spectators will be charged E20 to watch the competition.
