The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Sports Correspondent
PICTURE a daily diet of a large bowl of oats around 6am before a thorough workout in the gym that culminates into a dish of 12 boiled eggs without yoke around 8am.
A plate of half chicken without fat around mid-morning and another half chicken with brown rice around 2pm to be followed by yet another plate of half chicken and broccoli or vegetables around 7pm. All these meals, taken strictly without sadza, come in between gruelling sessions in the gym. This is what fast growing Mutare bodybuilder, Blessing “Hunky Bee” Saunyama had to put up in two months before this year’s Mr and Ms Ironman Zimbabwe contest.
Being an underrated bodybuilder from the third largest city, the Body Focus Gym bodybuilder defied all odds as he romped to victory in this year’s edition of Mr and Ms Ironman Zimbabwe contest. The competition was held last Saturday night at the Bulawayo Theatre. For his sterling effort, Saunyama walked home with a cash prize, a certificate, shield and gold medal after beating a field of six bodybuilders in the senior men bodybuilding category.
Bulawayo’s Lovemore Munyamana and South Africa-based Ndumiso Dhlodhlo took the second and third positions, respectively. This was the first time for Saunyama to contest in such a competition. He proved to have the best body proportion, definition, muscle maturity and body symmetry among the rest. “I still can’t believe that I made it since it was my first time to compete in such a contest.
“The competition was a bit tough since I was competing against popular national athletes, Lovemore Munyamana and Ndumiso Dhlohlo who is based in South Africa. These two were on second and third positions, respectively. “I started training for this competition in November last year and to a larger extend I was confident that I would scoop the title. “Now as I prepare for the Mr Zim contest, I want to work more on my hamstring and calf,” said Saunyama.
He thanked a couple of sponsors who stood by him up to the competition day. “Among the sponsors are Siba Guzha (Body Focus Gym), Canaan Matiashe and Kenneth Muchina. “I would also want to thank Bulawayo’s TJ Motors, Carl, Fadzi Fastec for the support they gave us during our stay in Bulawayo. “I also want to thank Simba.com from Mutare and Mutare Spar, not forgetting my lovely wife and cook, Alice Porusingazi,” he said.
Saunyama is now eying the Mr Zim contest slatted for August this year. Mutare’s Chamunorwa Marange also defied the odds in the men’s fitness category and got $200 in cash, medal and certificate, while Ngoni Gwama and Simbarashe Munzara also scooped second and fourth positions in the Under-23 Junior men’s bodybuilding category.
They got certificates and cash prizes. Body Focus fitness instructor, Siba Guzha, said changed training tactics contributed much towards the win. “As a highly qualified trainer and fitness instructor, I created extra time to help Saunyama and applied more training tactics in preparation of the Mr Ironman.
“We had to come up with a better diet, supplements and training strategies, but discipline was also required at the same time.
“I had to make emphasis on the quality of muscles which was lacking in the past. “Gone are the days where we used to train without knowledge. Saunyama has made history for Manicaland,” said Guzha.
Manicaland Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association chairman and former Mr Zim, Tobias Madzime Pedzayi, also said: “I am proud that there are great improvements in this sport as compared to our old days. “I would like to congratulate Saunyama, but at the same time I want to urge members of the public to remember that a healthy body gives a healthy mind. Stay fit and avoid unnecessary illnesses.”
