City to host martial arts fight

Meropa Casino and Entertainment World in partnership with Eksteen’s Martial Arts Rainbow Nation will host the Limpopo Last Man Standing Challenge at Meropa’s conference centre on November 30.

The event is set to draw fighters from across the country to compete for the R10 000 cash prize, which is sponsored by Meropa Casino.

Led by eighth dan grandmaster, Henri Eksteen, this form of mixed martial arts is said to be one of the fastest growing sporting codes in the city and appeals to male and female fighters from as young as 14 years old.

According to Refilwe Tlhabanyane, Meropa’s marketing manager, the challenge would be the first of a series of tournaments to be organised by Meropa Casino and Entertainment World together with Eksteen’s Martial Arts Rainbow Nation.

Meropa’s general manager, Clifford Ngakane said he was thrilled about the partnership with Eksteen’s. He said Sun International hosted such events in many of their casino’s across South Africa, and it gave him pleasure to be able to extend the Sun Golden Thread of Martial Arts Events to Limpopo. “When we say we want to be the best entertainment destination in this part of the country, we mean it.

There is a lot of work involved in making this goal a reality and this is why we have partnered with many local promoters to further enhance our entertainment offering, and to also bring about synergies in entertainment offers available in Limpopo. The casino’s aim is not to compete with local promoters, but to rather compliment and support their vision through our business,” said Ngakane.