HIGH-FLYING Zimbabwe Men’s Physique Bodybuilding champion, Itai Blessing Sithole, said he was shocked to be placed outside the podium at Saturday’s Marume Classic held at the Zimbabwe College of Music in Harare.
Sithole, a professional who has serenaded the fitness landscape winning several gold medals locally, regionally and internationally, was placed fourth behind Zambia’s Amon Mugaza and Shadreck Mwaba who won gold and silver, respectively, with Weignrace Masendeke from Harare taking bronze.
“It was ok; it was a well organised show and everything. I got fourth place. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. What's done is done,” Sithole, commonly referred to as CC Banks, told NewsDay Sport.
“To be honest, judging from what I was seeing and even what I'm still seeing, I thought I was in first place to be honest. Given the criteria used to judge Men’s Physique every day I thought that I was in first place. But I think the judges thought otherwise that's why I was given fourth place. To me, those guys were not even on my level. I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion and that's my personal opinion.”
When the announcement was made, he thought that there was a mistake and it would be corrected.
“I was like what? At first I thought they had made a mistake when they said the fourth placed contestant wearing tag number 60. I was like me of all the people going fourth? I was waiting for them to correct it,” he said.
"As a professional athlete I just gathered myself together and waved to the people. I said that's what they think I deserve so I just got the medal and moved off the stage with no hard feelings.
“I know according to what I'm seeing via the pictures while I was on stage that I was a better man. But you can't be an athlete and judge yourself at the same time so I just accepted what I was given. I’m now working towards the next challenge.”
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His next destination will be the Manicaland Classic in Mutare on Saturday. He is the current Manicaland and Harare Classic champion.
“I have never been fourth. Maybe in South Africa, where I was third but that was an international competition and I was competing with big boys from all over the world. But here in Zimbabwe, placing fourth? That came as a shocker to me.
“I'm going to do the Manicaland Classic this weekend. I’m the current champion, so I’m going to defend my title and then the Harare Classic again I’m the current champion. I’m going to defend my title. I finished second in Zimbabwe last year so I’m going to work extra hard to make sure that I place first,” he added.
