VETERAN bodybuilder and Body Fitness Gym owner Rufaro “Knox” Mapfungautsi passed on yesterday after battling high blood pressure for some time.
He was 68.
He is survived by five children and is set to be buried in his rural home in Kazangarare in Karoi on Wednesday.
In 1987 Mapfungautsi came third in the National heavyweights behind winner Innocent Choga and Bible Mhizha, who finished as the first runner-up.
En route to becoming a gym owner, he worked for several gyms as an instructor, including Hercules, now Empire gym and Family Health.
National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary-general Quiet Shangai said the fitness industry has lost a gentle giant and hardworking personality.
“Knox is one of the godfathers of the Zimbabwe fitness industry. I think you will remember that Body Fitness Gym was one of those gyms that took karate seriously, Kyokushin-kan under the guidance of Tendai Marange. People would go there to train karate. You talk of the now Shihan Tawanda Mufundisi, Sensei Mugove Muhambi, Sensei Admire Chingozhoro, Shihan Samson Muripo, Sensei Lowell Mazwei. Many guys are now into karate as we speak at that higher level which we talk about who are also mentoring other kids they found Body Fitness to be their home,” Shangai told EnterSportNews.
“And if you talk of bodybuilding and fitness, Knox was a bodybuilder, he trained as a bodybuilder, he trained bodybuilders, and he also trained those who were interested in fitness. You talk of Arnold Classic three-time medalist Precious Majuru, a former Ms Zimbabwe figure. She also went to the worlds and came 10th. She was groomed by Knox. If you talk of one of the finest trainers today, Lawson Muhambi, brother to Mugove. They were all groomed by Knox regarding fitness training.
“You also find out that Body Fitness Centre was home to some of the finest bodybuilders that we ever had. You talk of Dan “Bhuru” Desouza, Kenny “Rambo” Murungweni, Francis Kawaza, who went on to do the gladiators, Simba Chidhakwa, Tobias Madzime, Abraham Kwenda, all those big names they trained at Body Fitness. Even Innocent Choga himself is one guy who is grateful to Knox considering that he was also allowed to train in that gym as Knox was also known to respect those who had done a lot for the sport by affording them training space.”
Shangai said it would need at least the whole day to list all the names that came through Mapfingautsi’s hands.
“You talk of George Masters, Patrick Zaremba, Keith Chirimhanzi. The list is endless. It is that place that we cannot ignore. This is the reason why everyone is actually shocked and saddened by the passing on of Knox,” he added.
“He was just a servant of the industry. People who came out of his gym and went on to become who they are are many. Even the late Philip Gorogodo, who later on owned Life Fitness, trained at Body Fitness, Tendai Chaipa, to name but a few. It was that place that gave life to the fitness industry that he created. A place that gave a lot of belief in the fitness industry. Everyone would then say, ‘I am part of this industry.
“It was now referred to as buddies in the sense that friends in the fitness industry met and credit Knox for creating such space. I last had a chat with him on the Harare Classic 2020 when I had invited him to come and witness the ONLY competition that we had in 2020.
Unfortunately, he then had to attend a funeral. A relative had passed on. I remember reading a message on a Friday, he called me saying, “bamunini handicha kwanisa kuuya show there’s a funeral that has just happened, and I must attend that funeral.” That was the last time I spoke to Knox, only to get a call from George Masters and another call from Patrick Zaremba informing me that Knox has died.
We will always remember Knox as a great athlete and administrator par excellence.”
