The national karate team on Monday began early preparations ahead of the 16th edition of African Karate championship scheduled for April 22-24 in Libreville, Gabon.

A total of seven players are currently undergoing rigorous training at Amahoro National Stadium under the close supervision of national team coaches Yuji Kazuki and Noel Nkuranyabahizi.

The squad will be joined by teammates who are currently in school for an intensive three-week training camp before kick-off, according to Nkuranyabahizi.

"The training is going on smoothly and we hope to pick the best team that can represent the country well when the competition gets underway in Libreville,” said Nkuranyabahizi.

He further disclosed that this time round, the team would strive for an impressive finish following a motivated spirit from their new Japanese expert coach Kazuki who began his duties last week.

"He has definitely improved our game in this little time that we have been together and I think with this spirit, we can achieve our goal of winning a gold medal at this international tournament,” added Nkuranyabahizi.

The 28-old Kazuki holds a Third Dan from the famed Japan Karatedo Federation (JKF).

From July 1996 to March 2015, he was associated with the Japan Karatedo Union Diawa-ryu where he was an instructor of the Renseikan Dojo, a martial arts school.

In the previous tournament that was staged in Dakar; Senegal out of the team of 16 players that had represented the country, only one, Solange Gashagaza Ingabire won a bronze medal after subduing an opponent from Congo Brazzaville.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw