The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema
Since his sad passing last week, similarities have been drawn between the late Rufaro Mapfungautsi and the man internationally recognised as the godfather of bodybuilding, Charles Glass.
Both are 1980s bodybuilding icons, and have helped shape the sport in their respective countries.
Glass – a dreadlocked former bodybuilding champion – got his start competing in gymnastics at the University of California, in the United States and continues to share his knowledge to many upstarts to this day.
His client list includes, and is not limited to, the likes of actor and fitness enthusiast Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, four-time Arnold Classic champion Kenneth Wheeler, retired sportsmen Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and George Foremen.
Mapfungautsi is late, unfortunately, having succumbed to his long battle with high blood pressure.
While many regard Nyadziya ‘Kays’ Rushika as the godfather of the sport here in Zimbabwe, Mapfungautsi is a just a notch below that.
The late Mapfungautsi- or ‘Mukoma Knox’ as he will always be remembered in the bodybuilding and fitness community- is a former champion himself.
He owned Body Fitness Gym, which over the years helped shape the careers of the likes of Francis Kawaza, Kenny Murugweni, Tobias Madzime, Precious Mujuru, Mugove Muhambi and Danny Desouza.
Now, as the sport continues to mourn the loss of this icon, a quote from American author Carson McCullers should come as some sort of comfort.
In his book ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’, McCullers wrote; “How can the dead be truly dead, when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?”.
Two men of repute have since come out to share their stories of Mapfungautsi and the influence he had on their careers.
On one corner is the National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBF) secretary-general Quiet Shangai, and in the other is bodybuilding legend Innocent Choga.
“I never competed against Knox (Mapfungautsi), nor did I see him compete as he was mostly from the eighties.
“However, we are all saddened by his passing,” said Shangai.
“When we talk about his bodybuilding legacy, the best way I can sum up his contributions and legacy is that he could very well the Charles Glass of our sport.
“If want to say that Kays (Rushika) was our own Joe Weider (godfather), then Knox is our Charles Glass.
“Knox belongs to a class of pioneers that gave opportunities to others, and this is the best way I can explain the analogy above,” he said.
Though Mapfungautsi had retired, the burning desire to give back, and share his knowledge, still ran deep in his body.
“My last conversation with Mukoma Knox was in regards to the Harare Classic 2020, and the plan was to have him as a guest and share his knowledge
“He was unable to attend then, but we met at the funeral of Philip Gorogodo (another loss to the industry) and we had a long chat.
“He was with George Masters and we spoke about the industry and the passion that is lacking today.
“During his time, bodybuilding was not as commercial as it is today, and people exercised to stay healthy and stay in shape.
“He spoke about how the passion is no longer there,” he said.
Choga is one of those that competed against Mapfungautsi, beating him at the nationals in 1987.
However, he has not forgotten Knox’s contributions to his own career, as Mapfungautsi is one of the people that opened the doors for him during and after his competitive years.
At one time Choga had a lifetime membership at Body Fitness Gym.
“This truly is a sad time for the bodybuilding community,” said Choga.
“Knox’s passing has come at a time when we are also mourning the passing away of another bodybuilding old- timer from Mufakose George Kembo.
“I first met Knox Mapfungautsi back in the early eighties, when I started training in one of the city gyms called Hercules (now Empire).
“I was still a junior but showed promise.
“I caught the attention of Knox, who was working at another gym called Family Health as a trainee instructor under the tutelage of Mukoma Kays Rushika.
“We quickly became friends, and I later got the privilege to train with him,” he said.
Of the many attributes Knox possessed, one sticks out to this very day.
“He was a rare specimen,” said the former champion.
“Knox was one of those rare tall bodybuilders.
“Tall bodybuilders usually have a hard task of filling up their long limbs with muscle, but when they do they are hard to beat.
“They also tend to have problems with proportions.
“However, Knox had near perfect proportions.
“As an instructor, he helped train not only bodybuilders but many athletes from different sporting disciplines.
“He trained a few footballers and many track and field athletes.
“Later, he acquired Body Fitness gym, where he once worked, and even as the owner he was still instructing aerobic classes.
“He will be greatly missed,” he said.
