The ManicaPost
AFTER an impressive show in last weekend’s Mr Iron Man contest in Kadoma, Mutare’s Body Focus Gym bodybuilder, Brighton Mazikana is now preparing for the annual Musclemania competition.
Arguably Mutare’s finest, Mazikana settled for fourth position in the tightly contested Mr Iron Man competition which saw steely Isaac ‘Sugar’ Chimuchenga reclaiming the top prize.
Chimuchenga beat defending champion Vincent Kandiero for the top prize. Kandiero was second placed. It was a sweet victory for Chimuchenga as he retained the title he last won 2011 when the contest was held in Harare.
Noah Dzvokora came third.
However, Mazikana, who has dominated most bodybuilding competitions in the eastern border city in recent years, said he was now focusing on the Musclemania contest as well as the Mr Zambia competition. Both competitions will be held in August.
Mazikana, who paid tribute to Body Focus Gym owner, Siba Guzah and sponsor, Canaan Matiashe, said he was impressed with the orderliness that characterised the Mr Iron Man competition.
“I was really impressed with the way the event (Mr Iron Man) was organised. Everything was transparent. Although the prize money was not much, it was fine considering the state of the country’s economy. I think it gave me a good platform to prepare for the Musclemania competition and the Mr Zambia contest. Those are the two events that I am now preparing for.
“I can say last weekend’s competition in Kadoma was stiff mainly because they use just one line in the Mr Iron Man contest unlike other competitions whereby you have different categories. At the end of the day, bodybuilders with lesser weight tend to have an added advantage when compared to some of us.
“Let me also take this opportunity to thank Siba Guza for availing training facilities for me at his Body Focus Gym as well as local businessman, Canaan Matiashe, who has helped me a lot financing my preparations for the competitions,” he said.
The 36-year old bodybuilder, who weighs 98kgs, pleaded with the local business community to come to his rescue in financing preparations for the two events.
“I am passionately appealing for assistance in terms of sponsorship. Bodybuilding is expensive in terms of buying food for appropriate dieting when one is preparing for an event. For example, one needs eggs and three meals a day.
One has to eat about half chicken or more in each meal. There are also other supplements required. Therefore one needs at least $25 a day for meals only. This has to be done for about a month before the day of the competition,” he said.
Mazikana urged local bodybuilders in Mutare to enter more national competitions to showcase their talents.
“I really want to urge other bodybuilders here in Mutare not to shy away from national competitions. This is one way they can effectively showcase their talent. Yes, there is stiff competition but we are really not backward in terms of class. I think we have quite a number of bodybuilders here in Mutare who can compete at that level.
“It is also important that those tasked to lead the bodybuilding provincial association network with all stakeholders so that sponsorship can easily be sourced for more competitions. We can have highly successful competitions only if we are organised,” he added.
Bodybuilding in Manicaland was almost dying a natural death owing to inactivity until recently when the Manicaland Bodybuilding and Fitness Association announced that it has earmarked August 26 as the date for the exciting annual bodybuilding contest – Mr and Ms Manicaland.
Efforts to revive bodybuilding activities in Manicaland are underway with the MBFA already in the process to enlist the services and ideas of relevant stakeholders.
Bodybuilding had been on a steady rise in recent years, but suddenly started facing challenges last year, chief among them lack of sponsorship.
