Cape Town - Boxer and martial arts champion Ronald Dlamini was at the peak of his career in 2012, when he became blind. He was 36.
Now, he is a champion of others.
Born and bred in Maqumbi, in KwaZulu-Natal, Dlamini was the first black man to be crowned a champion in Mixed Martial Arts in 2009. Boxing fans called him the “Black Mamba”.
“The love of the martial arts started with boxing, when I was in my high school days. I wanted to be the first black male to raise the flag in martial arts. What was my dream, became a reality,” says Dlamini.
In 2012, after a fight in New Zealand, he came down with meningitis and lost his eyesight.
He has not let his condition stand in his way and still trains students.
His coach, Rhyne Hassan, who has been with him for more than a decade, says he never lost hope.
“It’s amazing how he ends up motivating us. He has never lost passion or hope in the sport. He is still the same guy he was when he could see; the only change is that he has grown into this motivating champion.”
He says they used to train blindfolded.
“Little did I know that it was a prediction that one of them would go blind one day. He is very stubborn. He still wants to get back in the ring and fight.”
Dlamini has written a book, “Light after Blind”, which he says will give people hope.
He is studying transport and logistics at the Umfolozi TVET College in Esikhawini.
“I have never thrown in the towel, because of my blindness. Life is good,” he says.
