Barbosa’s World Champs dream deferred

MDisappointed and

BABANE dejected.

This was the feeling shared by Eswatini bodybuilding champion Arnaldo Barbosa who was due to compete in the grandest global bodybuilding stage today, the Physical Culture Association (PCA) World Championships held in the United Kingdom (UK).

However, his dream was shattered by delayed visa processing and unfaithful sponsors. Barbosa qualified for the World Championships after an exceptional performance in the PCA South African Championships Qualifiers held in September, where he brought home a gold medal in the Under-70kg men’s bodybuilding line-up.

The bodybuilder expressed his disappointment after failing to acquire his travelling document in time, adding that numerous sponsors who pledged financial support to facilitate his dream failed to live up to their promises after he appealed for sponsorship.

“I am heart broken and disappointed because this has been my dream to hoist Eswatini’s flag on my shoulders and compete for gold against bodybuilding champions from across the globe.

“I have been waiting for my visa for weeks now but did not get it and I am not the only one as four other bodybuilders from South Africa faced a similar predicament. I was looking forward to delivering - my best because I have worked hard for the whole year and my training was so intense in the past month,” Barbosa said.

Disappointed but still optimistic, Barbosa said all was not lost as he hoped to qualify for the PCA World Championships to be held in Spain in November 19, 2023.

“Now I am working towards the 2023 World Championships in Spain and I hope the sponsors who promised to assist me will come through, because I have to compete in three qualifiers first so that I can progress to the World Championships,” he said.

Barbosa thanked Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council’s (ESRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Darius Dlomo who gifted the champion E6 000 after learning about his appeal for sponsorship soon after winning the PCA South African Championships.

In the same breath, he expressed disappointment in the Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs ministry that allegedly neglected him in the sense that it had in past individual sporting achievements, honoured athletes who achieved podium finishes in international competitions.

Sporting codes that have benefitted from the government incentives for podium finishes include boxing, swimming, chess, taekwondo, darts and athletics. A golf medal carries an E8 000 incentive, E5 000 for silver and E3 000 for a bronze medal.