adminSenior Sports Reporter
THE annual Mr and Ms Manicaland bodybuilding contest has been scheduled for the last weekend of this month amid expectations of an exciting contest that will exclusively feature contestants from the host province only.
Manicaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (MBFA) chairperson Farai Kasecha confirmed that his association has set September 27 as the date for the contest.
“We are at an advanced stage of preparations for the event. In fact, we have set September 27 as the date for the competition. We sincerely hope that we will be able to stage an exciting competition that will feature only participants based in Manicaland. It is not an open contest for participants from all over the country,” he said.
However, MBFA of the bodybuilding contest have expressed concern over lack of sponsorship.
Kasecha implored the local corporate community to come to their rescue.
“We are passionately appealing to the business community here in Mutare to help us raise funds needed to host the Mr and Ms Manicaland competition.
“We have always relied on the business community and over the years the response has been favourable but we are lagging behind this time around in terms of resource mobilisation.
“We are strongly appealing to the corporate community to help develop the talent we have in bodybuilding. We sincerely hope that the situation will improve and we will be able to host the competition on the day we have earmarked,” 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 in recent years, but suddenly started facing challenges last year, chief among them lack of sponsorship.
In the past, Manicaland hosted a number of bodybuilding competitions but the provincial has remained docile while nothing was being done to keep bodybuilders active especially last year up until now.
Several local bodybuilders in Mutare are expected to take in the event including steely Brighton Mazikana, Aaron Chinyamunzore, Blessing Saunyama and Shepherd “Beast” Kuwana.
Online Reporter