Overall Male Winner Haare Gonzo
By Tendai Chisiri
Biblically and culturally it has been noted that a child who says will do the job usually absconds and the one who says no later do the job and that was the scenario at Fitness Physiques Africa (FPA) Classic Qualifier as the winners did it out of interest not for money.
Grunts and yells were the order of the day at Zimbabwe Music of College on 29 April Saturday as bodybuilding and fitness athletes show cased their prowess with the audience getting fascinated by the shirtless men, women in bikinis and women modelling on stage.
Founder and chief executive officer of FPA, Cathy Martin sometime revealed that she started her bodybuilding and fitness due to overweight but the scenario was different at the 2023 Classic Qualifier as the winners had been drawn to the sport due to slimness.
Haare Gonzo was the Senior Men’s Physique champion and eventually became the Overall Men Winner. He is from the Metro Fitness Gym in Mufakose and is his first year to compete.
“I started weight lifting three years back. I came first in the Senior Men’s Physique Novice by National Zimbabwe Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness this year”.
“I was just slim and started simple exercises till was in the gym. I feel motivated by winning although that was not I was expecting as I do it to gain exposure.”
“I want to go far with the Men’s Physique since am winning and am looking forward to have soundly sponsors”, Gonzo said. He gave credits to his coach Jabulo and gym owner Shekede for the success.
“It’s all about patience, discipline and commitment”, he said giving a word of advice to upcoming athletes.
Eileen Mupfigo who won the Sports Model Women concurred with Gonzo that slimness is attracting people to bodybuilding and fitness. “It has been two years when I started. I was weighing 52kgs and now am weighing 66kgs”.
“I just felt that I was too slim so thought of lifting weights just as a hobby so that my clothes fit. I was given the name slender in my hood and I didn’t like it and had to do something”, said the 24-year-old from Barberton Gym in Bulawayo.
It is her first time in a competition and was introduced by her friend Mimi Dube who came second in the category. “We just came to witness and experience what other people are doing and won although it was not in our mind”, she said.
She urged upcoming athletes not to look down upon themselves. “One should have faith in oneself not to be intimidated about how others look like. For me am fine with the category of Sports Model. Am not an enthusiast in the dieting stuff”, she revealed.
Darlington Mukanwa won the Senior Men Bodybuilding and was very much prepared for the event. He was being coached by Mark online. It is not the first time the athlete from the border town of Beit-bridge to win an accolade.
“It is my third time to win since I came first in the Harare Classic 2020 and 2021. I am happy about winning and would like to keep up with the sport. This is the sport I love very much”, said Mukanwa.
Defending champion in the Men’s Fitness category Beloved George manage to have the title back.” The show was a bit tough especially on Paul Bako who took the second position as he gave me a run on the money. He is not a walkover person”, said George.
His goal is compete outside the country, in Botswana and South Africa.” At the moment, am preparing now for the World Federation Fitness show in May”, he revealed. He urged upcoming athletes to practise every day, like day and night and also eat healthy food.
“My advice to upcoming athletes is that they need to be patient and work hard. There is no shortcut in this sport and no to drugs and steroids.” added George.
Marlene Pfende who grooms models was left an elated person after two of her girls were in the top three of the International Modelling Women. “I am so happy for having two girls at the podium. It shows am doing a good job in the modelling industry”, she said.
Sijabulile Vuyisile Msimanga who came first and Kimberley “Angel” Mushangai who came third are the girls she works with. 18-year- old Sijabulile Msimanga who is a lower sixth student at Life- long College is looking forward to reach greater heights in future.
“I just like being a model because it works with charity. I want to become somebody else’s role model and fight against drugs”, she said.
Mufakose born and bred said most of people who take drugs are of her age and she feels sorry for them. “I got o Mufakose Gym for aerobics to maintain shape”, she added.
She is against the thoughts that models are prostitutes. “Beauty has been always associated with prostitution like zebra and donkey. A zebra stays in the forest but a donkey stays at home. So most people think beautiful people are not capable of being housewives which is not the case. Those beautiful people who are sex workers would not have made it in life academically or through their talents and resort to the trade”, she said.
Martha Ngoma from Zambia was crowned Wellness winner and Overall Women Winner.” It is my second time competing in the Fitness Physiques Africa show and am so happy for defending my title”, she said.
In the Masters category, spectators were left is stiches of laughter through the comedian Masiye Siwali’s poses. The 59-year-old Tiriparwendo and Tunga actor which were broadcasted on Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television beat up Maxwell Mvungo who was second aged 56 and Peter Tom who finished third aged 50 to retain the title. He showed that age is just but a number as he showed his masculinity.
“I started the sport 39 years ago at 20 years. Started winning competitions when was a bit old. Won Mr Mufakose 1999, Mr Chitungwiza runner up 2016, Mashonaland 1995 and won Mr Chitungwiza runner up seven times”, he said.
“I am a thinking of retiring when am sixty years old but will be still training. I want to help the youth to stop drugs to the extent of working with Child Parliamentarians”, he added. In the drama Tiriparwendo he acted as Churu was Mambo.
The show was well attended with Edward “Gearbox” Mutero, defending Mr Zimbabwe light heavy weight champion among the spectators with his wife. He applauded the show. “It was a well organised show as the athletes came out in numbers”, he said.
Dennis FPA marketing manager was ecstatic after the event. “It was a great day in office. The show lived to its billing and we are looking forward to have more shows in Zimbabwe”, he said.
FPA founder and chief executive officer Cathy Martin aka Boss Lady, who is the main sponsor through her brands BodybyCathy, FitwearbyCathy and TrnsformNutrirtion congratulated the winners for her base in United Kingdom.
“I say congratulations to the winners although everyone who took part in the event is a winner”. Our aim is for bodybuilding and fitness athletes to gain exposure and confidence as they prepare for international shows”.
Winners walked away with cash, trophies, medals, certificates, gym clothes and supplements.
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