Iron weekend ahead

The competition has attracted a number of Zimbabwe’s top bodybuilding icons that include defending champion Isaac ‘Sugar Sugar’ Kamuchenga, who is unlikely to have it easy against the likes of Mr Zimbabwe, Champion Chienderamwano and former Mr Ironman, Zumaile Eusen Meman.
The Kwekwe-born Chienderamwano, who now lives in Botswana, has become the hottest property in Zimbabwean bodybuilding, having won all the top competitions that make up the local sport, including the Mr Musclemania and Mr Ironman.
Coincidentally, Meman comes from Kadoma, where he began his bodybuilding career at his family home in Dalny Mine, popularly known as Chakari. “I want to win the Mr Ironman in front of my home admirers,” he declared recently.
The small Mashonaland West town is also slowly becoming the home of Zimbabwean bodybuilding, as apart from the Mr Ironman, the Odyssey also plays host to the Mr Musclemania contest.
The organisers recently announced that former Mr Zimbabwe Vincent Kandiero, who now campaigns internationally in South Africa, would also make the trip to Zimbabwe to try and wrestle the Mr Ironman title away from Kamuchenga.
The renowned Eddie Marondera and the experienced Patson Chatedzuka, a regular campaigner in most, if not all, of the major bodybuilding competitions, are also part of the assembly to gather in Kadoma, alongside a growing bank of talented youngsters eager to make their mark at the national level.
Bodybuilding is one of the fastest growing sporting disciplines in Zimbabwe and enjoys not only a lot of spectator value, but also sponsorship, due to the professional manner in which it is being run.