Lubabalo Kondlo is the world champion at the game of draughts - and he's on a mission to develop and spread the game in South Africa.
Kondlo is trying to convince tertiary institutions to introduce draughts as an extra-mural activity. He has teamed up with a group of Nelson Mandela University students to whom he teaches the game, including Siphamandla Matiwane, who is studying education. They are forming the Madibaz Draughts Club at NMU.
He started playing the game, with boys of his age, when he was seven years old in New Brighton. At 14 he joined Vulindlela Draughts Club under the mentorship of Jimboy Mqotsi and the late Lulama Gwashu, whom he describes as proficient players. Kondlo is still a member of the Vulindlela club. He is the first and still only draughts grandmaster on the continent, and the first world champion from Africa. He has won several major tournaments over the last decade-and-a-half.
“Being a world champion has not made life any better for me. I am even struggling to raise my three children.”
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