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FROM FOOTBALLER TO TOP PUGILIST

07/06/2023 10:19:00 Simanga Gamedze

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1. Thabiso Dlamini was born at Simunye Clinic and he is the firstborn child. He grew up in Simunye schooling at Lusoti primary School. “I started boxing in 2004 in Simunye Village which was called Simunye Boxing Club under the leadership of Ingwe Boxing Club boxer Sifiso Ngwenya,” he reveals.

2. In 2007, while doing grade VII still Lusoti primary School his grandmother who was 60 years old at that time could not pay for his high school education so the boxer had to dropout. “I had to dropout of school, but in 2010 I went back to school at Masundvwini National high School,” he remembers.

3. The Russian based boxer says two years after completing his primary education while doing boxing; he fought a good boxer by the name of Sifiso Mkhonta while still a junior. “He was a senior but we had a good fight and that’s when our former boxing vice president Vincent Malavi Sihlongonyane saw me then decided that I should go back to school,” he says.

4. Thabiso mentions that he comes from a family of footballers. He mentioned that his father Thami Cyril Dlamini was a good soccer player. “My father was a good soccer player previously in the books of Denver Sundowns and Simunye fC,” he mentions.

5. He revealed that he would fight with his uncle because he liked soccer and he was good. “I was good at playing soccer and my position was central defensive midfielder. I also played with the likes of Sabelo ‘Msalby’ Shongwe and our coach was Zweli ‘Botsotso’ Khoza. Sifiso ‘Omo’ Ngwenya persuaded my uncle to let me be a boxer and told him that I would travel the world because of my talent,” he shared.

6. The Eswatini boxer was the first liSwati to win a gold medal in the Region V games which were hosted in the country in 2010. “I was inspired by Phumlani ‘Tyson’ Mamba to join the national team because he would wear the national colours in front of me. It was exciting for me to be in the national team as I got to travel without paying and I got some allowance,” he laughs.

7. Roy Jones Jr – who is regarded as one of the greatest of boxers of all time is his role model. “He is one of the best in the history of the sport and he inspires me to do better. Local boxers I like include, among others, Zweli Dlamini, Andiswa Sibandze, Mancoba Dlamini and Sifiso ‘Omo’ Ngwenya,” he says.

8. He wants people to remember him as someone who was hardworking, disciplined and goal-driven. “I’m also someone who believes in God,” he stresses.

9. The Eswatini boxer supports Manzini Wanderers in the local MTN Premier League. “My favourite players in the league are; Xolani ‘Papi’ Sikhondze, Banele ‘Pupu’ Sikhondze, Mthunzi Mkhontfo, Njabulo ‘D4D’ Ndlovu and my cousin Ernest Mavuso being my favourite coach,” he adds.

10. The Wanderers supporter mentions that qualifying for the Olympics is his ultimate goal. “I want to qualify for the Olympic Games and represent my country very well,” he says.

11. Dlamini represented Eswatini in the Tokyo Olympics early last year and says that his biggest regret in life has been competing in the wrong category for the longest of time . That was in the 69kg division. “I regret doing that,” he laments.