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Dlodlo eyes another ZITF win

Sport
South African-based bodybuilder and reigning Mr. Zimbabwe champion Ndumiso Dlodlo hopes to return to the stage this month, when he competes at ZITF tournament scheduled for April 28 in Bulawayo.

South African-based bodybuilder and reigning Mr. Zimbabwe champion Ndumiso Dlodlo hopes to return to the stage this month, when he competes at ZITF tournament scheduled for April 28 in Bulawayo.

BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

The 32-year old-Dlodlo, who is now based in Johannesburg was raised in Bulawayo’s Emakhandeni suburb has always been a top contender over the years and last year was crowned the Mr. Zimbabwe at 7 Arts Theatre in Harare.

Dlodlo said that he has worked hard ahead of the tournament and hopes to win the big prize this time around.

“I have been training hard and chances are that this time I will be crowned the ZITF champion again. After finishing first and third at ZITF open and Ironman 2017 respectively, I came back stronger at the Nationals and became the first athlete from middleweight since 2007 (Chenai Mambwere) to win the overall senior men bodybuilding title at the Nationals.”

Dlodlo is set to battle it out in a star-studded line up that includes Blessing Nyapimbi, Nigel Maphosa, Eddie Mutero, Lovemore Munyamana and Nigel Maphosa.

In 2013, Dlodlo won the middle weight division and then took second place in the light heavyweight category the following year. He was the top bodybuilder In 2016 he was won in the senior men bodybuilding category while the junior division top prize was scooped by Thabo Ngulube at the ZITF championships.

Meanwhile Women’s division Shantel Batch who has dominated ZITF championships over the last two years is set to face competition from Kylie McDonald as well as Selina Manuel.

National Federation of Zimbabwe Bodybuilding and Fitness secretary general Quiet Shangai is expecting stiff competition in all categories of the championships. “All I can say is that we are going to have a tight competition and we are happy that we have an increase in women participation in the sport and this shows the women division will be a totally complicated category,” he said.­