At the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport, the athlete from Grupo Desportivo Eddiebauer Fitness expressed deep emotion at having elevated Angola's name to the highest level of continental competition.
“I faced opponents who have been professionals in the sport for longer, but I gave my all and, fortunately, I managed to achieve my goal. This trophy is the result of teamwork and I also dedicate it to my family and all my compatriots,” highlighted the Elite Pro athlete.
Denny Sexy made a point of expressing special thanks to his coach, Edir Fernandes, known as Eddiebauer, highlighting the strong connection and high degree of identification between them. He also highlighted that he and the coach share the same vision and way of being. He also considered that winning the African title is a reflection of a journey built side by side, marked by difficulties overcome, intense work, long conversations, friendship and a deep spirit of companionship.
In turn, the aforementioned coach stated that his athlete's achievement represents a big step that will further motivate his team, as well as the sport's community in the country, in addition to attracting new talent.
“It is an important milestone for Denny’s career and an added value for Angola, because it opens doors for other athletes to believe that it is possible to reach the highest level in international competitions”, he encouraged.
Eddiebauer also revealed that it was very difficult to cover the African champion's preparation, travel, accommodation, food and other expenses in Nelson Mandela's land. “It is extremely difficult to get an athlete to compete at an international level, because the costs are very high. We had to raise money with the help of friends, club staff, family and also with the support of a security company that sponsored the ticket. Everyone contributed what they could and, in this way, we managed to gather the minimum necessary so that Denny could go to South Africa”, he explained.
The coach concluded that his team has already achieved several victories and guaranteed that he will continue to do his utmost to achieve new successes. He added that, after many years of dedication to the sport, it is essential that everyone involved is duly valued – from athletes and coaches to collaborators and other people who, directly or indirectly, encourage and support the development of fitness in the country.
With this achievement, Angola reaffirms its prominent position in the fitness scene at a continental and global level.
The Sunfest Africa Pro Classic is currently one of the most prestigious competitions on the African continent. He pays tribute to the president of the International Federation of Fitness (IFBB), Rafael Santonja, for his achievements in favor of the sport.
It is important to highlight that the Sunfest Africa Pro Classic succeeds the renowned Arnold Classic Africa, a competition that paid homage to the American actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, where Angolan athletes have already reached the highest places on the podium in both amateur and professional versions.
It is also worth noting that Angola is one of more than 200 countries affiliated with the International Fitness Federation, an entity that maintains active cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
