Bodybuilding on recovery path

Ray Bande Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Bodybuilding and Fitness Association has embarked on a nationwide membership registration drive that is expected to restore vibrancy in the sport in most parts of the parts of the country.

ZNBBFA secretary Claude Shambare recently circulated a statement to provincial chairpersons across the country instructing them to establish proper structures at district level as well as register all operational gyms.

“We met with the Minister of Sports. At least now bodybuilding is moving forward. There are various good items that we discussed and we shall disseminate it to you.

“I am kindly asking you to work on compiling a list of gyms in your provinces and form district development committees.

“This must be submitted to me before the end of November 2015.

“Remember the constitutions, bank accounts and your 2016 programmes.

“I will be visiting you in December to check on progress,” reads the statement from the ZNBBFA secretary.

Manicaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association, an affiliate of the national mother body ZNBBFA, is already gathering details of gyms sprouted across the province.

MBBFA chairman Farai ‘Talawa’ Kasecha confirmed that they are in the process of reaching out to bodybuilding enthusiasts in small towns to form developmental committees.

“We received instruction from the national mother body to form district developmental committees as well as gather details of gyms sprouted across the province for registration.

“I personally travelled to Chipinge and we could be coming up with something that side.

“The same applies to Birchnough but in Nyanga there was nothing at all. We hope to get in touch soon with people in Rusape and Chimanimani,” said Kasecha.

Efforts to revive bodybuilding activities in Manicaland seem to be underway with the MBFA in the process to enlist the services and ideas of relevant stakeholders, but acute lack of sponsorship has worked against the efforts to revive the sport.

Bodybuilding had been on a steady rise, but suddenly started facing challenges in recent years, chief among them lack of sponsorship.

In the past, Manicaland hosted a number of bodybuilding competitions but later the province went docile while nothing was being done to keep bodybuilders active.

However, after the re-election of Kasecha last year, efforts have been made to revive the sport and it appears, with the support of the national mother body, bodybuilding might soon regain its joie de vivre in the province.

Several local bodybuilders in Mutare including the steely Brighton Mazikana and Blessing Saunyama among others are taking part in competitions that are being hosted in the provincial event.