TOP CYCLIST MDUDUZI’S COMEBACK

MBABANE – His name had become synonymous with podium finishes before he disappeared from the limelight.

That is the story of former national team cyclist Mduduzi Zwane. The 26-year-old deserves no introduction after racing to the top in many races that include the inaugural edition of the Mdumezulu Mountain Bike (MTB) Challenge back in 2015 on top of representing the country on the big stage (Commonwealth Games and African Road Championships). The seasoned cyclist confirmed to be training once again after he had been off due to COVID-19-related challenges. In recent years, he faced serious challenges that included losing sponsorships. “My club started facing financial challenges in the first phase of virus. Things got worse; I lost sponsorship and Dig Deep cycling club had to politely and kindly let me go. I was left with no equipment, so that was a big challenge for me,” he said.

Without a club, the 2017 MTN Khemani Classic Eswatini champion said it was very challenging to maintain himself or buy his own equipment which would fit the professional standard.
“I had been off for almost a year. It was so depressing but I had no other choice but to use other training alternatives like jogging, which is not my thing,” he said. Zwane said he was in no rush to attend races, as he was not affiliated to any club at this moment. He stressed on the need to work on his fitness. The former MTN Khemani Cycling Club star appealed to private and public companies to assist competitive cyclists with sponsorships.

selected

Meanwhile, Zwane, who was in the 2018 Gold Coast in Australia, said he believed in the team that has been selected for this year’s showpiece to be staged in Birmingham in July. In cycling, team Eswatini is made up of the phenomenal pair of Muzi Shabangu and Kwanele Jele. Artwell Ndzinisa will be the coach. The experienced road and off-road races cyclist said it was very unfortunate that he would not be part of the team selected for this year’s Commonwealth Games in England, but he was happy for the selected squad and he was hoping for a medal. “I’ve been following all of them and I’m amazed with Muzi Shabangu’s performance inside and outside the country. I also like his confidence as I’m blessed to be his neighbour down in Matsapha. He inspires a lot of upcoming cyclists as he has been the only consistent champion Eswatini has ever produced,” he noted.

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