Bodybuilders gear for Mr and Ms Novice

THE National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness (NFZBBF) will hold its first major event of the year, the Mr and Ms Novice, at Long Cheng Plaza in Harare tomorrow.

The event will have five bodybuilding and fitness divisions, six powerlifting divisions and two strength and fitness challenge divisions.

NFZBBF spokesperson Quiet Shingai said more than 50 bodybuilders and fitness fanatics from Midlands, Bulawayo, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Masvingo and Harare provinces will take part in the event.

"We will start with registration in the morning and the programme will start thereafter with powerlifting and strength and fitness challenges. In bodybuilding and fitness, we have senior men bodybuilding, junior men Under-21 bodybuilding, men's fitness, women figure fitness and wheelchair men bodybuilding," said Shingai.

Masimba Nyamajiwa from Masvingo and Irvine Dekeya from Harare will be the guest posers.

NFZBBF has partnered Kingsport investments, Savanna Pharmaceuticals, Cafe 263, Simbarashe Chikore, PEPFAR and 1+1 Happy.

Shingai said a supplementation seminar will be conducted by Savanna Pharmaceuticals, while sports scientist Last Sithole will make a presentation on training and nutrition for people living with HIV and Aids and other chronic diseases.

Bulawayo-based Shantel Batch, who won last year's fitness bikini, reigning Mr Novice Brian Samundombe, Raymond Mutandiri, Shammah Mugava and Marylin Mangoto are some of the bodybuilding and fitness athletes to have come through the tournament's ranks.