By Tendai Chisiri
All is set for the 2022 Zimbabwe Body Building and Fitness clash in the post Covid-19 pandemic era at 7 Arts Theatre Avondale in the capital on Saturday as the curtain comes down for the National Federation of Zimbabwe Body Building and Fitness (NFZBBF) calendar.
The Zimbabwe Nationals are being competed by seasoned athletes who are to give each other a run for the money in all categories.
2022 Harare Classic winner and has several medals under his belt, Edward Mutero who is based in South Africa said the show is going to be epic because everyone wants to win, so it is a battle of champions.
“The show is going to be epic because everyone is eyeing for the top accolade so it is a battle of champions”, he said in a telephone interview at his base in South Africa.
“I’m more than ready and I am very confident I am going to get into the finals which is overall”, he added.
He sees Ndumiso Dlodlo as the biggest challenge at the show.” He won the Nationals twice but in 2019, he failed to defend the title after I defeated him in the senior men body building light heavy weight upto and including 90 kg”, Mutero said.
Mutero who believes that history is not a living issue is optimistic of winning the championships. ” But history is history, let’s wait and see what will happen at the finals but what I guarantee is am going to win and the rest will follow”, he said.
In the senior men heavy weight category, the favourite athletes to clinch the title are Mark who won it in 2019, Ndumiso Dlodlo who won it twice, Gedion Teguru current Mr Ironman and Noah Dzvokora current Mr Bulawayo.
He misses defending champion Nigel Maphosa who is also based in South Africa as they always rubbed shoulder to shoulder everytime they met on stage.
Athletes also expected to produce fireworks are from the Women’s Bikini Fitness category Nomathamsanga Phiri and Lynette Tom, and CC Banks, and Ryan Gumbo in the Men’s Physique category.
Harare Classic reigning champion in the Women Bikini and Fitness category Nomathasangana Phiri is oozing with confidence that she will emerge a winner on Saturday. ” I am concentrating on my preparations for now and enjoying the journey as it comes’, she revealed in an interview.
She is not afraid of anyone as she sees herself as the biggest challenge. “I work on improvement and progress”, she said.
She also said every preparation for the competitions is different and has its own challenges so she continue to learn her body
NFZBBF organizing secretary Quiet Shangai was quoted by The Sunday Mail publication as one walking with springs indicating that he is in the cloud nine because this year’s body building and fitness competitions have been successful.
AFTER two years of little to no action, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2022 has seen some degree of normalcy start to creep into the world of bodybuilding said Sunday Mail.
“Before we delve into the preparations for the event, I wish to make it public the efforts we are making behind the scenes in order to ensure we put up the best possible shows every time.
“Zambia and Malawi have set the blueprint and we have followed suit. We currently have an exchange programme in which we are partnering with other countries in an effort to improve and grow.
“We recently had a judges training course that was conducted by veteran international judge Ellmari Wroe and we had as many as 18 locals attending. These are some of the steps we are taking to ensure that we learn and grow. As far as the actual preparations of the nationals are concerned, we are working with a budget of about US$12 000 in prize money.
NFZBBF will have their annual general meeting at the venue before the championships.
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