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Makomborero Mutimukulu in JOHANNESBURG, S. Africa
TEAM ZIMBABWE plunged into the inaugural Arnold Classic Africa competition here yesterday amid high expectations. The event, hosted by celebrated actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has attracted the cream of bodybuilding from the continent and beyond.

Yesterday’s registration exercise, which the organisers had budgeted two hours for, lasted 11 hours as hundreds of athletes invaded the Sandton Convention Centre.

Even Egypt — a country whose bodybuilders rarely take part in competitions hosted in Southern Africa — have sent a strong, mean looking contingent.

Although the three-day extravaganza also features sports such as karate, boxing, fencing, volleyball and wrestling, Zimbabwe’s interest is in the bodybuilding and fitness categories.

Funding constraints forced the country to send 16 athletes, most of them by road, but the team’s Chef de Mission Givemore Marume remains confident. “This is the inaugural Arnold Classic competition for the continent so it’s difficult to set targets, but we believe we have a team that can pick up some silverware,” said Marume.

“Competition will be stiff as evidenced by the quality we saw during registration, but we have done our best to prepare for this competition.

“The athletes are pumped up and ready to rub shoulders with the best in the world.”

Marume reckons Zimbabwe stand a good chance in the power lifting where Prosper “Wasu” Saungweme is defending the flag.

“Saungweme is looking good, he is in form,” said the former Mr Zimbabwe.

“In the women’s physique category we have Precious Mujuru, she is looking really, really good. In the lightweight category Lovemore Munyamana is looking really ripped and ready to showcase what he has been training for.

“In the middleweight we have Vincent Kandiero, he is thick and has the condition that the judges will be looking for.”

Cape Town-based fitness physique contestant Crofton Murombo looks headed for a good finish after breezing through the first round of the competition.

Murombo believes a punishing 12 week programme is bearing fruit.

“I took myself through hell over the past 12 weeks and it’s pleasing that such hard work is being noticed.

“It’s still early days yet, but just being here, posing in front of these legends is already an achievement,” he said.

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger has hinted that the Arnold Classic Africa competition will become an annual event.