Madagascar touches down ahead of UFAK East Karate Championships

The visiting team, consisting of four elite athletes, an international referee, and their head coach—was received by Kenya Karate Federation (KKF) President Eng. Richard Binga and local federation officials.

Welcoming the delegation at the airport, KKF President Eng. Richard Binga expressed his delight at hosting the regional tournament, noting that Madagascar’s arrival officially kicks off a busy week for regional martial arts in the country as he also assured the country’s preparedness to host the championships.

"We are expecting 11 other countries to land in Nairobi, and Madagascar is the first to arrive," President Binga stated. "We have made all the necessary preparations to receive them and ensure they have a seamless experience as we build up to the main event."

According to Binga, the upcoming days will feature a rigorous preparation phase before the heavy hitting begins. Thursday 28th  will be dedicated to technical training and briefing for international referees. On Friday 29th , the focus shifts to practical assessments for referee upgrades alongside specialized coaches' training and briefing sessions. The climax of the week will see athletes take to the mat for full-contact competition on Saturday 30th  and Sunday 31st  at the Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Arena.

Speaking through a translator, the Madagascar Karate Federation President  Émile Ratefinanahary expressed immense gratitude to Kenya for taking up the mantle of hosting this edition. He highlighted the deep, years-long friendship between the two federations and emphasized the critical importance of keeping the East African region active.

"Since 2022, this region has faced structural and logistical difficulties that hindered major events," the Madagascar President noted. "For the last three years, we have been working hard to promote karate in East Africa. I highly commend President Richard Binga for stepping up to host this championship. It is not an easy task."

The Madagascar chief  also emphasized that regional exposure is exactly what local athletes need to conquer the continent.

"Our biggest challenge in the East region is the lack of frequent competition and exchange programs for our athletes. This tournament is vital. Furthermore, it serves as the ultimate proving ground before the All-Africa Karate Championships taking place in Algiers, Algeria, this coming September."

Despite traveling with a lean squad of four competitors, the Malagasy delegation is highly confident after locking down a rigorous three-month intensive training camp prior to their departure. The team will be hunting for medals across four distinct categories: Cadet, Junior, and two separate Senior categories.

On their expectations, the Madagascar team representative made their intentions clear: "We are very glad to be here and grateful for the warm reception from the Kenyan Federation. We will do our absolute best to fight hard, support the growth of the federation, and bring these championship trophies back home to Madagascar."

Meanwhile, other participants Ethiopia who are the defending overall champions from the previous edition,Uganda,Tanzania,Rwanda,Burundi,Sudan,South Sudan,Eritrea,Djibouti ,Somalia,Comoros and Mauritius are expected to land in the country in  the course of the week.