First ITF National Sparring Championships 2022 in the Democratic Republic of CONGO  



FEDERATION TAEKWONDO DU CONGO DU ITF MO#658



For the first time in 2022, the Congolese FE.TAE.CO-ITF held a National Sparring competition in the Capital  of Kinshasha in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tournament, which was in fact the finals of a nation wide sparring competition, took place on 25 and 26 November 2022. In total in four categories, the first National ITF style winners were to be found. Participants from seven provinces had found their way to compete in Kinshasa. You will find further details in the press article below.  This ITF Federation was newly established in 2018 when the President Willy Makenga and Secretary General Augustin Ninganga decided to leave the WT (KUKKIWON) and join the ITF. Contacts were made with the Belgian ITF who took over the mentoring of this new established group.



On 24 November 2022, Bo-Sabums Konstantin (Secretary of BEL-ITF) and Michael Dittrich (President of the Belgian ITF) went to Kinshasa on behalf of the ITF to support the event. The delegation was warmly welcomed already at the airport of Kinshasa. Throughout the visit the delegation was accompanied by representatives of the FE.TAE.CO.



On 25 and 26 November 2026 both delegates acted as centre referees and demonstrated the ITF rules in practice.In this context. Konstantin Dittrich did also a short presentation of ITF TULS. Michael Dittrich gave a presentation and instructions to the Congolese umpires to adopt to the ITF system. Mr Dittrich conveyed the best wishes and support to the Congolese counterparts, which was warmly received. It became obvious that this new group needs further support in mentoring but also in equipment. Belgian ITF donated a first set of flags in red and blue (Hong /Chong) for marking winners on the spot.



Further events are planned for 2023 namely in Europe and it is the great hope of Belgian ITF that this was not only the first step to support our Taekwon-Do brothers and sisters in Africa but will be followed by similar events soon.



The potential is enormous in the DR Congo as it is enthusiasm of the practitioners



Michael Dittrich (BELGIAN ITF)





Press article in the local press:



https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://lequotidien.cd/taekwondo-tout-ce-quon-doit-retenir-de-la-1ere-edition-du-championnat-national-de-la-fetaeco-itf/__;!!DOxrgLBm!AxIpmnVcmd-x9iTAogbXWb6E2y1i7nvvL63sLCE15kJGO2ZIV3CfCgaCHc_ik7WysEn6XzNW5jSHm60Y_lCK7mXlslU8j8W1Ex8L$