The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FOUR Bulawayo-based bodybuilders, all from Body Works Gym are heading off to Botswana to compete in the Designer Physique Bodybuilding and Power Lifting Championship to be staged in Gaborone on Saturday.
Lovemore Munyamana, Delvin Paige, Pretchard Hoko and Kylie MacDonald leave the country on Friday, a day before the competition.
Nathan Greenland, the Body Works Gym director said they want to give their up-and-coming bodybuilders an opportunity to take part in a high profile event. While Munyamana is a seasoned athlete, having competed nationally as well as regionally, Paige, Hoko and MacDonald do not have much experience in the sport.
“We are taking some of our bodybuilders to the Designer Physique in Gaborone, Botswana on Saturday. The idea is to give some of our up-and-coming athletes an opportunity, if you look at the list, we have some guys who have not taken part in much competitions,’’ Greenland said.
Hoko last month won the men’s physique at Novice Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship held in Harare. MacDonald, winner of the women bikini model at last year’s Novice as well as runner up at the 2018 Ms Bulawayo only took part in her third competition yesterday.
The four bodybuilders were in action last night as they took part in the PPC Zimbabwe bankrolled Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Open Bodybuilding Championships held at Bulawayo Theatre. It means the quartet will be in pristine condition as they will continue with their training as well as dieting regime.
Designer Physique organiser Kudakwashe Zhara, a Zimbabwean based in Botswana said he was expecting bodybuilders from Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and Zimbabwe to take part in the third edition of the Designer Physique.
There are lots of prizes up for grabs with the top accolades in each category being P5 000 followed by P2 500 and P1 500. Other prizes are in the form of household and electrical goods sponsored by Home Corp Botswana.
In 2017, Kadoma-based Tapiwa Chibota took the overall men’s prize at the Designer Physique with another Zimbabwe, South Africa domiciled Edward Mutero taking the honours last year.
South Africa-based Ndumiso Dlodlo, voted as the best male bodybuilder in Zimbabwe for two years in a row is also heading over to the Designer Physique, which should make it an exciting show.
