Tinaye Agere
Deputy Sports Editor
THIS year’s Ironman building festival is doubtful after revelations the event’s major sponsors are yet to commit to a date for the showcase.
While the festival was originally pencilled in for May, it was later tentatively scheduled for August.
But there are now fresh doubts following proclamation of the election date for August as well. National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBF) technical director Givemore Marume confirmed that a new date is yet to be agreed on.
“The launch and actual dates of this year’s Ironman Festival are still to be decided.
“This is due to the fact that our main sponsor had suggested that the event be held in August, this, after logistical problems forced us to move it from its original May date,” he said.
“The provision was due to the condition that the elections won’t clash with those dates.
“However, now that we know that the elections will actually be held on August 23, with a provision for a run-off in October, we are still to negotiate and set a new date.”
The uncertainty has dampened what has otherwise been a bright start for the 2023 bodybuilding and fitness season.
NFZBF’s successes in the first half of the year include the oversubscribed Novice competition and the return of many district contests. The federation’s representatives who participated at the Arnold Sports Festival in South Africa also acquitted themselves well.
“The first half of the year has been hugely successful, and we look forward to another eventful couple of months.
“Our first event of the year — the Novice competition — was a major highlight, as we managed to attract one of the best crowds in recent memory.
“The athletes’ attendances broke the record books with something in the region of 63 participants. No other Novice contest has managed to reach or come close to that number.’’
The various district shows, added Marume, were big drawcards.
“We also held a number of district shows, with the Mbare and High Glen Cup among the major draws. We hadn’t managed to hold any show in Mbare, which was once a hub of talent, in over 10 years.
“Held at Stodart Hall, the event had a pretty sizeable crowd, both from a participant and spectator point of view, and was very well-received,” he
said.
The NFZBF, however, did not manage to send a 22-member contingent for the Arnold Sports Festival in South Africa as originally planned.
Instead, it only sent three athletes — Aaron Musarurwa, Nomathamsanqa Phiri and Francois Chikukwa — due to a combination of financial constraints and personal commitments.
But the trio held their own.
“There was a very big and competitive field taking part at this year’s Arnold Sports Festival. Nomathamsanqa and Chikukwa found the going tough in their categories.
“While they didn’t place in the top three, both gave a good account of themselves,” added Marume.
“Aaron Musarurwa, however, did exceptionally well and came second in his category (the men’s senior category, 85kg and under).
“There were plenty of lessons to draw from our time in South Africa, and I do believe that there is a bright future for the sport.
“We just need financial backing that will enable us to send our athletes to more competitions like the Arnolds, which will give them the exposure and experience they need to get to the next level.”
Online Reporter