admin“GRAB your gear and we do a light workout. Nothing major just light exercises,” Vektar Hungwe said after our hour long interview at Body Active Gym last Thursday. A chance to train with the champion and get to feel the high tech machinery at the Borrowdale Racecourse facility proved too tempting to pass.
“Don’t worry we won’t go heavy. I am yet to start training for the IBF contest in Slovenia,” added the multi-award winning athlete as we made our way to the dressing room. It’s difficult to pinpoint where or when it happened but something in Hungwe changed between that quick shuttle of moving from the weights area to the dressing room and back.
With headphones on Hungwe got into the business mode and some input from his workmate and training partner, Irvine Dekeya, saw an envisaged light workout turning into an intense and highly enlightening 30 minute session.
“It’s not about the weights but technique. This is body-building and not power lifting. If you can do 15 reps with 20 kilos and eight reps with 15 kilos you are better advised to stick with your 20’s rather than seek to impress people by hitting a heavier weight,” said Hungwe as we began our session with a back exercise.
One doesn’t need hours with the champ to realise the man believes in pushing himself and his training partners to the limit. “No, no pick your weights and give me five more reps. Attitude is everything in this game. You might feel like those biceps are big enough but they are not . . . pump that weight,” Hungwe ordered the writer as the session got intense.
In an era where so many supplements and drugs are available, both legally and illegally, Hungwe warns there are no shortcuts to success.
“My message to the youngsters is never cheat. Work hard in the gym, know your body and get the right supplements. “Supplements such are a must if you want to become professional but one has to know which brand works for him or her and which one doesn’t.
“Just like in any industry there are some shady characters who offer illegal or banned supplements, steroids even, but if you want to go far stay away from such guys. It has taken me a decade and a lot of hard work to have a balanced body that can compete and win on the international stage and my story is similar to all the other guys I meet on the international stage . . . hard work is the key.” Now that we have worked out what should I go and eat? “A lot of white meat,” Hungwe advises. “Graze a lot of chicken breasts, egg whites and brown rice. A serious body-builder watches what he eats always.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter