(Last Updated on September 23, 2015 by Editor)
The National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBBF) says it expects at least 150 athletes to take to the stage this time around.
In an interview with Standardsport, NFZBBF spokesperson Quiet Shangai confirmed that preparations were in full swing for the staging of a memorable event while they were still to finalise sponsorship deals.
“The preparations are going according to plan. So far PEPFAR, Crystal Candy, Profitness Health Club, The Celebrity, Trust Me Security and Landel Engineering have started performing the sponsorship contract,” he said
“We are still waiting to hear from other partners who have been supportive to our cause. We have around 20 partners but we will continue to publish them as soon as we conclude the sponsorship deals,” he added.
Champion Chienderamwano is the current Mr. Ironman and will be defending his title next month.
His tightly-contested victory in Kadoma at the beginning of this month, where he wrested the Mr Iron man crown from the ageless Isaac Chimuchenga and subdued Blessing Samaringa into second place, sets the tone for yet another gruelling battle.
“We are ready for the big one on our calendar and we have already purchased the trophies from South Africa and they will soon be here. We are expecting at least 150 athletes at this year’s competition while, we introduce new divisions —the masters, which involves men over 45 years of age, the disabled category. as well as the junior men Under-23,” Shangai said.
He revealed that competition would come in 13 different categories, with four of them including the disabled men and women, the masters and the junior Under-23 men making a first time appearance at the event.
Most of last year’s winners including overall winner men, Chienderamwano, senior men under 70kg best, Lovemore Manyamana, Vincent Kandiero, senior men under 80kg champion, Samaringa who ruled the roost in the middleweight, as well as ladies figure fitness Helen Costa Sinclair will participate.
Others expected to feature are ladies 2014 champion Wendy Hanse, Ladies bikini model Carla King, reigning Mr Manicaland Brighton Mazikano and Tapiwa Chibeta, who put up a commendable show at the Iron Man pageant among others.
Mr and Ms Zimbabwe Body Building categories:
Senior men under 70kg
Senior men under 80kg Senior men under 90kg
Junior men under 21
Junior men under 23
Masters men over 45 years, Ladies disabled, Men disabled, Ladies fitness fugure, Ladies Bikini and Men fitness physique