The Sunday Mail
Quiet Shangai
Bulawayo province’s organising secretary in the National Championships, Simon Gamha, is a man of few words. On the rare occasions he speaks, it’s always a treat!
His latest utterances come in the form of a declaration of intent. The seasoned administrator has promised “total dominance” by his charges at this month’s Zimbabwe Bodybuilding Championships.
A little history lesson is in order.
During the 1993 Zim nationals, a Bulawayo-based athlete walked onto the stage clad in a hoodie.
He greeted Tendayi Chaipa while eating his sweet potatoes, and later shocked all those who were in attendance, when he walked away with the big one.
That man was Grant Henderson, Bulawayo’s first winner post-independence.
His showmanship was entertaining.
He even featured in American magazines and almost got a pro card when Lee Priest got his.
Sadly, Henderson went into hibernation and it took another 24 years for the province to produce another winner in Ndumiso Dlodlo.
Before then, that is between 1993 and 2017, Manicaland, Midlands and Harare dominated the nationals, with, “Big Dog Inja” Dlodlo breaking the chain when he won the national senior men bodybuilding title in 2017.
Bulawayo has produced some fine bodybuilders, among them, the late Gabriel Feremeka, Lazarus Shereni, Victor Kunonga, who is also a jazz musician, Peter Welenski, Lovemore Munyamana and Simon Gamha, who has since retired.
While none of these bodybuilders has won the big one, the province has dominated in the women bodybuilding, junior men bodybuilding and bikini divisions through Charity Juma, Peter Welenski and Shantel Greenland respectively.
Gamha is determined to extend Bulawayo’s dominance into all divisions.
Juma, the Ms Zimbabwe 2008 and current National Women Physique champion, is expected to do well at the nationals.
Greenland is also expected to defend her Women Bikini Fitness title.
Marko Mwale, who is yet to lose a competition since wheelchair bodybuilding was introduced in Zimbabwe, is expected to cause all sorts of problems in the disabled category, while the current Manicaland Classic Junior men bodybuilding champion, Zibusisio Khumalo, is one of the favourites to walk away with the crown.
Marvelous Ganda and Pritchard Hoko are likely to cause serious damage in the Men’s Physique division, and the same goes for Lovemore “Dembare” Munyamana, who is chasing George Munyoro’s record of seven national lightweight titles.
The defending senior men bodybuilding champion, Dlodlo, has his team oozing with confidence.
Dlodlo is balanced, proportional and symmetrical, and the soft-spoken athlete has deep separations that make him a tricky customer.
“It is not easy to defeat the Big Dog. He has matured,” says Mark Anthony Valisatos, who carries the hopes of Harare in a division that was last won by the capital in 2008, when Tarirai Chirume defeated fellow Hararean, Chenai Mambwere.
Bulawayo is bringing in 15 atheletes for the September 28 meet.
Gamha has arguably the strongest provincial team on paper, most of them well accustomed with podium finishes.
But, Manicaland and Midlands should not be underestimated as they have a number of good athletes on their cards.
Then, Harare currently holds home advantage.
