By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
HONEST Muyupi’s debut at the inaugural 2014 Amateur Olympia Africa bodybuilding contest ended in disqualification while Sylvester Mwila missed out on the title after finishing fifth.
Muyupi, who last week warmed up for the Mr Olympia Amateur contest by scooping the Mr Golden Jubilee competition held at Savoy Hotel in Ndola, could, however, not showcase his skills after he was barred from competing due to late arrival.
The Zambian arrived an hour late for the pre-selection event despite arriving in South Africa a day before the tournament.
Mwila on the other hand, managed to compete in the heavyweight category where he finished among the top six musclemen.
The five-time Mr Zambia champion finished in fifth position behind Merwe, Vusumzi Njisane, Shanti Mitohell and Dwayne Van Zijl but ahead of Sam Kruger, all from South Africa.
The International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) organised Amateur Olympia Africa was comparable in scale with other major amateur contests across the world.
Mwila and Muyupi were accompanied to South Africa by the Zambia Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (ZBBFF) president Danny Mkandawire and his vice Brown Ng’ambi.
Ngambi said in an interview yesterday that the late arrival at the competition’s venue by Muyupi was caused by communication challenges between the two Zambian officials, who were lodging at different places.
“I did not know the exact time the pre-selection started which was compounded by the fact we had some communication challenges as we were staying at different places. We arrived at the venue late by one hour and so Muyupi was disqualified.
It was very unfortunate that he did not attain the exposure just like his compatriot Mwila after having prepared for the event,” Ng’ambi said.