By Mr Kyoshi Sonny Pillay, President of SKISA

The International Kanazawa Cup (IKC) is the annual flagship tournament of Shotokan Karate-do International South Africa (SKISA). The tournament, held on April 25, 2009, at the Tongaat Indoor Sports Centre, North Coast, attracted a record entry of 600 international and local participants. Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius and Botswana were represented at the event. The IKC attracts participants as young as four years up to those karateka over the age of 40.

The Chief Guest of Honour for the event was the Japanese Karate Maestro, Manabu Murakami Sensei, a two-time world champion. VIP Guest and chief sponsor of the event, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, was interviewed by SABC 1 for the programme, The Warriors, who covered the prestigious event. Deputy Mayor, Cllr Logie Naidoo officially welcomed all participants to the City of Durban at the IKC opening ceremony.

SKISA Team South Africa 2009 provided the fireworks in the International Team Event, winning the final against Team Mozambique. Team SA (Men) were crowned as Team Champions for the fifth time in succession, continuing their winning streak at the IKC. The IKC Team Trophy, sponsored by Gift of the Givers, was presented to Team SA Captains Sensei Brando Pillay and Tina Lee Singh. Sensei Brando won the Senior Men Kata Division for the 10th time in succession, having first won the event in 2000. Former World Junior Champion (2003), Njabulo Khumalo, was declared the outstanding fighter of the Tournament, after winning the Senior Men Over-75kg Kumite Division, and was presented with the Donovan Goodall Memorial Trophy.