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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
PPC Zimbabwe have assumed sponsorship of the Mr and Ms Zimbabwe International Trade Fair on 29 April which this year has been broken down into two segments, Mr Strongman in the morning as well as the bodybuilding contest in the evening.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Bodybuilding and Fitness Association organising secretary, Simon Gama said PPC Zimbabwe has poured in $5 900 which caters for the prizes and other expenses associated with the competition. Mr Strongman is taking place at the ZITF Main Arena while the bodybuilding contest is at Elite 400. Last year, Clarion Insurance bankrolled Mr and Ms ZITF which took place at Cloud Nine, now Club 263.
For Mr Strongman, muscled men will get to pull cars from a Nissan March up to an Intercape Pathfinder bus over 30 metres, flip tyres and engage in the Farmers Walk where they get to run with weights over a certain distance. The categories for the bodybuilding are junior men Under-23, women fitness bikini, senior men and men’s physique.
“PPC Zimbabwe are sponsoring this year’s Mr and Ms ZITF on 29 April, the Strongman is at ZITF. Registration has already started, all bodybuilders in Bulawayo are taking part except those going to Arnold Classic in South Africa. For Strongman, they will pull five cars, a Nissan March, twin cab, T35, truck horse and an Intercape Pathfinder bus. They will also take part in the tyre flip and Farmers Walk,’’ said Gama.
Prizes are lucrative for Mr Strongman with the winner set to pocket $500, the runner up $300 and third-placed to get $200.
For the senior men bodybuilding the first prize is $300, $200 is for the runner up with $100 for number three. For junior men, the champion is guaranteed $200, with $150 to go the way of the runner up and $100 for the athlete in third place. The prize structure is the same for the top three in women fitness bikini and men’s fitness physique. A separate show for men’s fitness will take place a day before which Gama said has its own sponsor.
South Africa-based Ndumiso Dlodlo, the winner of last year’s men bodybuilding is coming home to defend his title. He is certain to face competition from five times in a row Mr Bulawayo, Lovemore Munyamana who has withdrawn from Arnold Classic. Other senior men expected to give Dlodlo stiff competition are Michael Alimu, Givemore Marufu, Domingo Lunga and Thembinkosi Lunga.
With Shantel Greenland and Selina Manuel who are both going to Arnold Classic not taking part, this presents an opportunity for up and coming female bodybuilders to showcase their talent. Gift Sango and Prosper Saungweme are favourites for Mr Strongman as they are representing the country in the same category at Arnold Classic. Saungweme swept all the prizes at the Body Works Classic Mr Strongman held at Gifford High School in October last year.
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Bongani Ndlovu