WITH less than a month before the National Physique Community (NPC) Pro African Qualifier rolls into action, Zimbabwe bodybuilder Tinotenda Ryan Gumbo remains optimistic of a positive result in the competition.
The event will take place from December 1 to December 2 in Cape Town, South Africa, and will be the last event on the bodybuilding calendar this year. Winners from the nine categories lined up in the competition will earn themselves an International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB) pro-card which provides the champions an opportunity to feature in the world’s pro-shows.
Despite missing the overall top spot at the NPC Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix Pro Qualifier held in September, Gumbo feels he has done enough to do well in the upcoming challenge.
“I can say so far so good. We are right on course and leaving no stone unturned to make sure I bring my absolute best condition on stage. I have been working on areas the judges highlighted for me to work on, improving from last year's event and we have been working extremely hard to make sure everything flows smoothly,” says Gumbo.
“Preparing for big international shows is a challenge financially as well as mentally because apart from getting everything, you also need to be mentally prepared. Many thanks to my main sponsors Trysupps Zimbabwe who have made this whole process easier for me by providing all the nutritional requirements and supplements to make sure I’m in top form.”
Gumbo is gunning to be the first Zimbabwean to hold the IFBB pro-card.
“Regardless of the economic hardships and how expensive it is to prepare for a bodybuilding show, to me I don’t take it as an excuse for not achieving great things, hence I’m always trying to inspire a lot of athletes out there that anything is possible. As long as you can believe in yourself with or without sponsorship, you can become what you want in life. My goal is not changing, I’m fighting to become the first Zimbabwean to attain the IFBB pro-card and this will obviously unlock doors for me to compete in Europe and eventually earn my qualification for the Mr Olympia,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey this year, Gumbo highlighted that it has been a great season as he also looks forward to retaining the Men’s Physique title.
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“(The year) 2023 has been a very promising year to me, despite failing in the overall lineup after I had won my division at the Muscle Mulisha Grand Prix that was held in Johannesburg in September. This didn’t affect me because I had a few lessons to take note of from that show, hence I’m now more than prepared for the upcoming challenge. I’m also looking forward to reclaiming my Men’s Physique title at the Zimbabwe Nationals to be held a week before I fly down to South Africa. I’m using the Zim Nationals as a warm-up show for the NPC African Pro Qualifier,” the muscleman added.
