Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
LOVERMORE Munyamana was dethroned as Mr Bulawayo after he finished fourth at the Bulawayo Classic bodybuilding contest held at Bulawayo Theatre on Saturday.
The seven-time winner was defeated by Harare’s Noah Dzvokora who recently finished second at the Harare Classic and managed to get it right in Bulawayo.
It was a tough day in the office for Munyamana as he also failed to get a podium finish for the first time in eight years. Gideon Teguru from Harare finished second and in third place was another athlete from the capital, Aaron Musarurwa.
Dzvokora was delighted to have finally gotten it right after coming close and missing out in Harare. He said the defeat in Harare and Saturday’s win give him eagerness to keep working hard as he is eyeing Mr Zimbabwe scheduled for November 26 in Harare.
“It feels great, I am grateful to the sponsor for allowing us to compete here today (Saturday). The win here and the event in Harare gives me the energy to keep pushing harder going towards Mr Zimbabwe,” said Dzvokora.
Without proper training, Munyamana feels it was going to be extremely hard for him to win as his competitors were training and competing.
“The problem is that I didn’t train for a while since 2019, I started training in September up to now. The guys who won have been training, they didn’t stop and they were competing continuously so I don’t regret it otherwise I’m happy that I’m still around,” said Munyamana.
The seven-time champion is now switching his focus to the upcoming Mr Zimbabwe next month.
The Trek, AG Petroleum and Master Rig Oils-sponsored event also featured a wheelchair category where four participants took part.
All the participants received prizes.
Lesley Payne Gondo was the winner of the category, followed by Silayezelo Phiri, Peason Tazvivinga and Mugoni Chikove.
Other categories included the junior men’s bodybuilding which was won by Aaron Musarurwa from Harare, followed by Stanslaw Chirenje and Shelton Chidembo also from the capital. Darly Ndlovu from Bulawayo finished fourth.
The men’s fitness open was won by Beloved George while Richard Chikwe was second and Givemore Kamuronyo third. All three are from Harare.
Bulawayo athlete Emmanuel Sibanda was fourth while Paul Bako from Harare was fifth.
Harare’s Lynette Tom won the women’s fitness bikini and was followed by the Bulawayo pair of Michelle Chigaazira and Nokuthula Ndebele.
Blessing “CC Banks” Sithole from Harare won the men’s physique category, in second place there was Bulawayo’s Jonathan Fredricks and in third there was Bako. Bulawayo’s Tapiwa Muberekwa finished in fourth position.
Event sponsor, Admire Gomera, a former athlete, said he was happy with the way the tournament.
“Besides a few hiccups, everything was smooth. Trek is a big brand so I think we are going to give more and better sponsorship going forward.
“We don’t win every day, every day is not the same, you lose today you win tomorrow, hard work pays, if you lose today go back to the gym, work harder, put in more effort and more commitment you will win one day,” said Gomera. – @brandon_malvin
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter