The return of Mr and Ms Mufakose

MUFAKOSE community gym, once the pride of this popular high-density suburb, is in pretty bad shape.

The dim light that greets visitors at the entrance is, but a prelude of what lies inside, as the walls have clearly seen better days.

The paint hardly covers the mould that lies underneath, and the bars and equipment have been vandalised.

The dilapidated state of the facility is a far cry from the rich history of the establishment, which nurtured renowned athletes such as Innocent Choga, Garikai Mwale, George Takundwa, Clyde Mutero, former wrestler Oliver Tengende and Rangarirai Hunda.

Many football legends and other sports stars also used the facility during off-season.

It is a point that Masarira Silingwani — or national hero, as he is called in the community — casually brought up during The Sunday Mail Sport crew’s tour of the facility.

“Mufakose community gym was known as the home of champions after the many big names that passed through these halls.

“Among them are names like Garikai Mwale, who was the first black man to win the Mr Mashonaland title, and then came names like Innocent Choga, George Takundwa and Clyde Mutero, who are all former champions in their own right,” Silingwani said.

“We have members who are instructors in other countries like David Chawapiwa, who is the chief instructor in Johannesburg.

“The list goes on and on, and also includes former football stars who would come to the gym during their off-season and train.”

Silingwani is one of the few that still has high hopes that the gym could return to its former glory, and that journey starts next month when they hold the Mr and Ms Mufakose bodybuilding competition.

The competition, last held in 2008, will mark its return on September 3 at Rutendo Hall and will feature four main categories.

These include the junior, senior, open men’s competition and the bikini modelling category.

The return is part and parcel of efforts to revive both the sport and the Mufakose community gym.

The organising committee is, however, appealing to sponsors and well-wishers for pledges in cash and kind.

“The city council, through the Mufakose Social Service Department, have given us permission to use Rutendo Hall as the venue of the competition, which makes its return after 14 years.”

Silingwani is also the gym’s marketing and publicity officer, and member of the bodybuilding event’s organising committee.

Competitors from the community and neighbouring suburbs have already begun lining up for the event.

The goal is to make the competition an annual event and later include bodybuilders from all regions of the country and beyond.

It is believed that the return of the competition could usher in a new era for the gym.