It took guts for over 2500 to stand in queues and audition, in front of a host of people, including other hopefuls, for a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the World of Champions.

The SuperSport MVP Talent Search show hit our screens on Sunday and it had all that a reality television show has to contain. From nerves, to tears and almost heart stopping moments that the thousands of hopefuls experienced as they tried to get their feet into the door of sports broadcasting.

The show is dedicated to unearthing the next generation of broadcasting and commentary talent in South Africa. SuperSport’s Hope Mbhele and Tshego Koke are leading the charge for this competition as the hosts.

The auditions held in five provinces brought in many excited and determined individuals who were not scared to dare to dream to join the elite SuperSport talent. Some entrants submitted their audition online by video.

Then the elimination process began. The 2500 entries they were first reduced to the Top 100. A boardroom full of SuperSport and agency judges, which included Neil Andrews and Owen Nkumane, then held intense but fair. With robust debates and differing opinions, they sifted through these entries to select the elite Top 30.

These contestants were then flown to Joburg to begin the SuperSport Draft Camp. The 30 confident and cheerful hopefuls made their way to Gauteng with hopes in their hearts for what lay ahead. Their families showed them support and wished them well for the next leg of the competition.

Sadly, as the participants arrived in their base camp one of the contestants had to pull out of the competition. Luckily, another participant was available to keep the number at 30. The top 30 contestants consists of individuals who are already experienced in the broadcasting world, from radio sports reporters, producers and radio presenters. There is even a former Miss World South Africa top 10 finalist.

As they begin their journey, the entrants’ skills and knowledge were tested through yet another audition in front of four judges.

Neil, senior rugby anchor Motshidisi Mohono, and producers Nono Xaba and Arthur Khoza were the judges the hopefuls were trying to impress. Some were impressive while others didn’t meet the expectations of the judges.

The tension and anxiety in the room when Hope shared the heartbreaking departures of some of the contestants could be felt even offscreen. She broke the news to those who would be going home, leaving the remaining 20 to celebrate. But they will also start a new challenges to earn their stay in the search.

The round of auditions for the judges should make it easy for the audience to pick their favourites and start rooting for them for the rest of the competition as some some could not hide their nerves, others sailed through the auditions with great ease.

They will undergo high-pressure, real-world challenges in both the studio and out in the field until the lucky Top 10 are announced in early December.

Catch the show every Sunday at 9pm on Mzansi Magic and SuperSport Variety 4.

So you saw the first enthralling episode of SuperSport's MWP Talent Search - well played! Now it is time to get to know your finalists just a little bit better.

Catch the episodes every Sunday at 9pm on Mzansi Magic and SuperSport Variety 4.

The show is dedicated to unearthing the next generation of broadcasting and commentary talent in South Africa, with SuperSport’s Hope Mbhele and Tshego Koke leading the charge for this competition as the hosts.

GET TO KNOW YOUR CONTESTANTS

Click on the image to go through to the profile...

Atang Swaartbooi: The LLB Masters student, from Kromrivier, North West, is confident that his journey within sport over the years will stand him in good stead.

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Relebogile Mabawa: The YFM anchor is chasing his SuperSport dream.

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Abongile Baleni: Watching his father cry in disappointment, then express absolute delight in a space of one football match pushed him towards to the wonderful and fascinating world of sport.

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Moleboheng Tsoane: Hearing her home language on football commentary was enough to convince her that she too will be able to tell stories through the microphone.

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Sibonelo Zulu: of all the places for the commentator bug to bite - over a couple of PlayStation games at church with his friends?!!

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Rebone Chobane: After years of watching her favourite sports presenters on television, Rebone knew that this was the way she wanted to go.

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Lennox Wasara: the award-winning radio reporter is ready for a new challenge, and SuperSport is where he hopes it will happen

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Kebalepile Ramafoko: certainly not the only one, Kebalepile's passion for sport on television was sent sky high by being able to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup matches on multiple SuperSport channels.

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Angel Thekiso: Watching a woman take command of a studio during a football match made Angel believe that she too can live her SuperSport dream.

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Ayanda Nyuswa: no rookie in the world of sports broadcasting, Ayanda is looking to take his profile to the next level with a plumb SuperSport role

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Thembelihle Mguni: the former beauty queen and self-confessed Daddy's girl is hoping to light up your SuperSport screens.

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Christopher Tarr: back in SA after studying abroad, the Talent Search show came at a perfect time for the man who wants to tell inspirational SA stories.

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Yvette Mhlauli: hoping to bring the same passion her Dad has for Orlando Pirates to SuperSport broadcasts.

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Rethabile Moshounyane: having never escaped the overwhelming joy and excitement of a football game, she didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to expand her pitch-side career to television.

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Anelisa Jaxa: He fell in in love with commentary in his formative years, and has been dreaming of the big stage ever since.

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Lucky Mofokeng: The sweet taste of a biscuit ultimately led Lucky to the mic - find out more!

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Delano Moodley: When a rugby dream ended, a broadcasting one was born.

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Delucia Daniels: her love for Formula 1 runs so deep, she even based her honours thesis on the sport and politics that affect it.

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Dikeledi Chabedi: a seasoned freelancer with over a decade of experience in sports journalism and broadcasting. Can she take her career to the next level?

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Bongi Mgoqi: A long walk to the SuperSport dream - can the former sheep herder become a herder of sports fans to his broadcasts?

Name: Delucia Daniels

Age: 25

Hometown: Uitsig- Ravensmead, Western Cape

Delucia Daniels’ love for Formula 1 runs so deep, she even based her honours thesis on the sport and politics that affect it.

Her work in radio as a producer at Good Hope FM has always nudged her to pursue a career in sports broadcasting but she just didn’t know how.

After being a regular voice for the sport on a breakfast television show, Delucia finally found her courage to bite the bullet to explore.

The SuperSport MVP Talent Search has given her the opportunity to make a go at it.

“The big thing for me was that I didn’t feel like I belonged in sports for a long time because I couldn’t find what exactly suited me. It is very difficult to go from being a fan of sport to talking about it. The transition is what drew me into it.

F1 TRUE LOVE

"Formula 1 has always been something that is my one true love, it happened very unexpectedly. When I got into the Formula 1 world and I started presenting it on radio made me realise that this is actually what I want to do for the rest of my life,” says Delucia.

The Masters in International Politics student at Unisa says she felt the competition came at the right time for her next move in her career.

“Entering the competition aligned with where I was. I had done some TV work with Expresso doing F1, so when the competition showed up it was an 'a-ha' moment. It was like someone saying I am doing the right thing.

"There is still a massive gap for Formula 1 at SuperSport and I thought this is the opportunity for me. Entering the competition felt like the perfect thing at the time for my career,” she says.

Name: Delano Moodley

Age: 21

Hometown: Bedfordview, Gauteng

A rugby injury may have ended Delano Moodley’s dreams of being a big deal on the pitch in the sports world.

However, the love of sport in him didn’t die when he injured his shoulder in a game of rugby, instead he found ways of staying in the exhilarating world of sport.

Delano had been planning to start his own online sports show when he learnt of the SuperSport MVP Talent Search auditions that would take place at his campus at the University of Pretoria. He says he didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity when he saw the activation in his school.

“I didn’t know what the SuperSport MVP Talent Search was. I just saw it on campus one day as I was walking past and I decided I should go and audition. I waited in line, and I did my audition and then I found myself in the top 30.

STARS ALIGNING

"A week before I did my audition, I was thinking of starting my own little sports broadcasting show for myself. When I saw that SuperSport were basically doing the same thing, but obviously on a bigger scale, I thought that the stars are aligning perfectly,” explains Delano.

Delano has been training at South Africa’s former UFC Middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis’ gym in Pretoria. He says he hopes to share his love more mixed martial arts (MMA) and draw in new supporters for the sport.

“I played all kind of sports from primary right up until high school. I really enjoyed playing rugby. I played regularly at the University of Pretoria.

"Unfortunately, in my second year I injured, my shoulder. So, then I pivoted into the combat sports space and have been doing MMA up until I left for the SuperSport camp. I enjoy watching it and commentating on it whether it’s on my TV or on a live stream,” he says.

Name: Dikeledi Chabedi

Age: 33

Hometown: Soweto, Gauteng

Dikeledi is a seasoned freelancer with over a decade of experience in sports journalism and broadcasting.

She began her career in 2012 at UJ FM and went on to work at YFM, Power FM, as a sports anchor and journalist. On television, she started in 2016 with Soweto TV covering regional sports and later joined VisionView TV.

As a sports presenter, she has covered major events including the SA Spring Open, Region 5 Games (Malawi & Lesotho), COSAFA football, Basketball Africa Qualifiers (Johannesburg), and the Ngonyama Cup (Eswatini, 2024). She has also freelanced with SuperSport as a netball commentator.

Versatile across radio, TV, and live commentary, Dikeledi brings a proven track record in covering diverse sporting codes and tournaments. Her experience positions her as a strong candidate ready to transition fully into sports presenting.

Name: Lucky Mofokeng

Age: 27

Hometown: Soshanguve, Gauteng

Having your father as your first sporting hero is the easiest way to nudge you towards following a career in sports.

Although Lucky Mofokeng wasn’t able to reach the pinnacle in the sports he grew up playing, he knew that working in sports was his destiny. His sport of choice when he was younger was football and then it was quickly replaced by cricket during the days Baker’s Mini Cricket days.

BISCUITS!

“I started playing cricket because of the free biscuits then I stopped playing football because we would get biscuits. That is how my sports career started,” says Lucky.

Although the taste of sweet baked goods was the start of his sporting journey, the euphoria and hype of the FIFA World Cup made him realise that his journey would not only be on the field as he wanted to explore a career having conversation about sporting events.

“Besides playing sports, the main reason I fell in love with sports broadcasting was the 2010 World Cup.

"After watching the first match and seeing how much joy and unity sports brought to South Africa I thought I also want to make people happy like that. If it was through sports conversation, I want to do that. That is how I saw myself, as a sportscaster,” he says.

Cricket opened doors for him and also secured him a scholarship to study at the University of Johannesburg.

“Unfortunately I came to the realisation that I am not going to be a professional player, that is when I went into varsity radio. I like a bit of attention and since I couldn’t do it on the sports field I got it through radio.

"I am a massive sports fanatic, I love being behind the mic. I love bringing joy to people,” he says.

Becoming the MC of the Varsity Sports competitions on campus offered him the perfect training ground.

Name: Rethabile Moshounyane

Age: 22

Hometown: Bloemfontein, Free State

Bloemfontein Celtic are responsible for spreading so much love and happiness, not only to the people in the province but throughout the country too.

Siwelele planted the seed of the sport in a young Rethabile Moshounyane and she has never escaped the overwhelming joy and excitement of a football game. After being an integral part of the University of Free State sports, she didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to expand her pitch side career to television.

The SuperSport MVP Talent Search gave her an opportunity to test how far she can go.

“I was trying out my luck but after being a Varsity Football emcee for four consecutive years I really grew to love football. I thought, ‘let me nurture my talent, venture into sports doing what I like which is presenting.’

I thought this is the perfect platform for me to still find myself within the presenting or corporate emceeing, try it out and see how far I can go,” she says.

Rethabile hopes to grace fields and television screens to engage and interact with fans and viewers to spread the joy that football can bring.

SA v NIGERIA EXPOSURE

She believes being part of the team that entertained fans at the Free State Stadium in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifier between South Africa and Nigeria is an assurance that she’s on the right path.

“When Kovsies were looking for a presenter, I didn’t know what to expect, I just went for it because I was talent driven. That pushed me to upskill myself and my knowledge of football.

The ‘national call up’ to emcee the Bafana Bafana World Cup qualifier against Nigeria has to be the most memorable sporting event for me. That was such a big match, that was a push for me that I have to go for it. It was a reassurance for me. It was a huge responsibility that I was trusted with,” she explains.

Name: Yvette Mhlauli

Age: 33

Hometown: Alberton, Gauteng

The Soweto derby is one of the most emotional football games on the South African calendar. Some people have lost relationships with family, neighbours and friends because of the difference of opinion the game causes.

In Yvette Mhlauli’s home, derby days meant early dinners and quiet evenings when her beloved dad’s club, Orlando Pirates lost. However, that is how the love for football got planted in her.

“On derby days my mom would cook dinner really early. Dinner would be served at 3pm already so that if Pirates lost, my dad would have already eaten. Then everything would turn into gloom. There was no laughter allowed in the house because what was funny when Pirates lost? My love for sport started there,” she remembers.

The YFM presenter says the opportunity to enter the SuperSport MVP Talent Search came at the right time.

The Lunch League host says she had been dreaming of moving towards sports broadcasting for a couple of years but had never actively taken the time to grab past opportunities. She believes this competition was the one she had been waiting for.

FOOTBALL GURU

“I had always said that one day I’d love to move into sportscasting but I never did anything about it. On my show on Fridays we play a game called Football Face Of, it has been a year and three months of us playing the game and so far no one has beaten me.

"My love for sport kind of echoed through the people from there and I realise that I am pretty good at football knowledge. I should probably start taking this seriously. When the Search came out, something said this could be my big break,” she says.

Yvette says she hopes getting an opportunity to work at SuperSport will showcase to viewers that women can be exceptional in the world of sports.

“They can expect a lot of laughter, a lot of shocks. I am expecting a lot of meme-able moments but also a lot of positivity,” she adds.

Name: Christopher Tarr

Age: 22

Hometown: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

While studying Communication and Media Studies at the Centenary College of Louisiana in the United States, Christopher Tarr proactively started working towards his dream job.

By the time he graduated, he had gathered experience in four different positions, working his way to becoming a sports journalist.

The SuperSport MVP Talent Search came at the right time for him as he was settling back into his South African life.

“I always wanted to be a sports journalist. I have wanted to work in sports my whole life. Being able to get an opportunity to work in a place like SuperSport is a dream come true.

"The 2019 Rugby World Cup final was a big one for me. I saw what that event did for South Africa and the people of South Africa, and I wanted to be part of that.

TELL SA STORIES

"I wanted to tell South African athletes' stories because of that. Seeing the story of Siya Kolisi and his captaincy of the Springboks side, those are kind of stories that made me want to tell stories. I wanted to tell meaningful stories that inspire people,” he explains.

The hard-working Christopher dazzled not only in class but also on the field for his university. He says having been a footballer will help him offer the audience better insights from an athlete’s perspective.

“I played football for 15 years, and my favourite player was Fernando Torres. He inspired me to play football. There wasn’t a particular person that got me into sports, it was just from watching it.

"I played a variety of sports growing up. I played for four years in the United States (college football).

"My experience as a footballer will help with my presence on screen because it gives me confidence in knowing that I know what I am talking about. I see the game from a different perspective because I have played the game,” he explains.

Name: Anelisa Jaxa

Age: 25

Hometown: Lady Frere, Eastern Cape

Anelisa Jaxa fell in in love with commentary in his formative years, and has been dreaming of the big stage ever since.

The announcement of the SuperSport MVP Talent Search indicated a path for him to test himself and move to a platform that would allow most of South Africa experience his talent on television.

“I wanted to showcase my talent on a different platform. I had been commentating around the Eastern Cape for a while. I wanted to showcase my skills on a bigger platform,” says Anelisa.

SIGNATURE SAYING

He reckons he has something different to offer South African football fans. He believes viewers are ready for a fresh new voice.

“I have a signature saying that I know will keep the audience glued to their screens. I am very informative and passionate about the game. I believe that I am you and I am the new blood that people might need to listen to,” he says.

The Soweto derby, like for many South Africans, has had a huge impact on Anelisa’s life. A packed FNB Stadium with sounds of the vuvuzela and singing bring happy memories to him.

“We used to watch the derby. The Soweto one, between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs during the days of Siphiwe Tshabalala, Oupa Manyisa and Andile Jali. Those were the matches that I started watching with full concentration.

"The commentary on SuperSport made those matches incredible, there was so much information to get and the skills on the field kept us entertained. Those are definitely some of my most memorable times watching football,” he says.

Name: Thembelihle Mnguni

Age: 26

Hometown: Boksburg, Gauteng

A father’s influence on their daughter can be one of the most vital things in their life. That is the story of Thembelihle Mnguni and her father.

From a young age her father instilled in her the love of football in her but that didn’t end there.

Thembelihle is also following her father’s professional footsteps as well. She is currently studying for a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg, her father is also a qualified electrical engineer.

“My father would make it a habit to take us to the Orlando Stadium and watch Orlando Pirates play. He would take us as a family. He is the biggest Pirates fan that I know. You know when you are so exposed to something that it becomes your daily routine.

DADDY'S GIRL

"Growing up was my father and I watching games together. I am currently studying electrical engineering and I’m in my second year. That is also an influence from my father. He is, without a doubt my biggest role model. I am truly a daddy’s girl,” says Thembelihle.

The 2024 Miss World South Africa finalist felt she should challenge herself on a different platform, entering the SuperSport MVP Talent search competition with the hope that she can do well in.

“I thought to myself ‘I don’t have any experience in broadcasting whatsoever but I am familiar with beauty pageants and modelling.’ But that is a different kind of camera where you just stand and pose whereas in broadcasting it’s live and every word you say matters.

"I thought ‘maybe we should venture into this. Maybe this will be our next challenge.’ The only time I had been a ‘presenter’ was in front of the mirror in my bathroom. I entered on the last day of entries. I have no experience but I took the leap of faith,” she says.

Name: Ayanda Nyuswa

Age: 29

Hometown: Umzinto, KwaZulu-Natal

Ayanda Nyuswa is no rookie in the world of sports broadcasting. He is currently a sports presenter, reporter and content producer for Gagasi FM.

The KwaZulu Natal native began his journey at RadioDUT while he was studying Sports Management at the Durban University of Technology. His undeniable talent took him from campus radio to an even bigger platform when he joined Durban Youth Radio, a community radio station, in 2020.

He only spent a year and a half before Gagasi FM snatched him up.

“I auditioned on campus radio in 2016 and they took me. I worked as a sports presenter, doing bulletins and a bit of content production as well. I did campus radio for four years,” he says.

Throughout the years Ayanda has covered some of the big sporting stories in the country recently, including Bafana Bafana’s 1-1 draw against Nigeria in the FIFA World Cup African qualifier in Bloemfontein.

LIFELONG DREAM

Progression to television broadcasting is an inevitable step for Ayanda. The opportunity to enter the SuperSport MVP Talent Search was a no brainer for him.

“I decided to enter because joining SuperSport has been a lifelong dream for me since I started my career. I have always seen it as the ultimate goal and dream. As much as I have done radio for as long as I have, television has always been a dream.

"Getting into SuperSport is not easy, especially if you have no experience in TV. I have never done any TV (work) apart from podcasts. I saw this opportunity as the best one, I felt it’s a once-in-a lifetime one time opportunity that I cannot miss,” explains Ayanda.

The multifaceted journalist hopes that he will be part of the team that will bring updates either from the touchline of rugby, cricket or football matches or as part of the SuperSport Blitz team with news updates while working towards being in studio as an anchor one day.

Name: Bongi Mgoqi

Age: 32

Hometown: Ngcobo, Eastern Cape

Although Bongi Mgoqi had to walk about 7km to a different village to watch sport on his aunt’s DStv, that planted the seed of a the love of sport in him.

“Since I am from a village, television is not something I came across early on in my life. I think I only came across a DStv, which provided a clear picture, in 2009. Before that the TV channels we had access to were quite blurry because of connection issues.

HERD SHEEP, WATCH THE GAME

"I would come from school on a Friday, herd the sheep back into the kraal and then go to KwaQithi to my aunt’s to be able to catch the game on the Saturday. I was so sport crazy that I would walk back home at night if the moonlight was bright enough,” explains Bongi.

Although telling a story on the pitch was not much of a struggle, Bongi felt much more at home telling the story of other players through commentary. When the SuperSport MVP Talent Search came, he knew that he had to try his luck to reach a wider audience.

“I played football in school but I felt more comfortable on the sidelines as a commentator. I was a good player but I was more comfortable when I was doing commentary. I thought that this was my opportunity, this is my time to shine and do something that I always loved.

CHIEFS FAMILY

"I grew up in a football loving family. My dad is a Kaizer Chiefs supporter, almost my whole family supports the club. This is how I fell in love with the game. I will make sure that I educate viewers, give them the knowledge that I have on sports.

"I will be entertaining and let my confidence shine through. I will make sure to bring my A game,” he says.

Name: Angel Thekiso

Age: 22

Hometown: Bethlehem, Free State

Watching a woman take command of a studio during a football match made Angel Thekiso believe that she too can reach her dreams. This gave birth to the dream of being a sports broadcaster.

The SuperSport MVP Talent Search felt like the right opportunity for her to pursue this dream.

“I’ve always wanted to be a broadcaster for SuperSport and specifically for football because after moving to Bloemfontein I started attending more games at the stadium. That is where I started falling in love with the sport itself.

"It has always been a dream for me to be a broadcaster. I will definitely bring more colour to the SuperSport screen, and I have plenty to offer.

CLASS OF CAROL

"My love for sport started on the broadcasting side, I came across a woman on my screen, Carol Tshabalala. She made me fall in love with the world of broadcasting, you can see that she loves what she does and knows what she is talking about. She is my personal hero,” she says.

The Angel of the Free State believes that her bubbly personality will bring colour to the SuperSport viewers’ screens. She is in awe of how people from the City of Roses embrace all teams that play in her home town.

“My first sporting memory has to be Bloemfontein Celtic supporters and how they were always there supporting each and every team that played their matches in Bloemfontein. Any team that came to play got a warm welcome,” she explains.

Name: Kebalepile Ramafoko

Age: 27

Hometown: Witbank, Mpumalanga

The 2010 edition of the FIFA World Cup is one of the most talked about globally. It didn’t only bring the vibe to South Africa but also gave birth to more football fans.

For Kebalepile Ramafoko, who was only 12 years old, being able to watch different matches on multiple SuperSport channels was total bliss. Well, at least until Diego Forlán spoilt the party for the host nation in the second group match.

“That is where my love for football started, that Bafana Bafana opening game against Mexico. Sometimes I still think about this one player, Diego Forlán. He still traumatises me to this day. I will never forget what he did to us. He scored the two goals and there was just no hope for us,” says Kebalepile.

INSPIRATIONAL

She hopes to be part of a generation that inspires the next on to dream.

“I knew that I always wanted to be on TV but I didn’t want to be on TV just for the sake of it. I wanted to impact lives. I entered Miss South Africa in 2024 and part of my advocacy was equal opportunities on and off the field focusing on sports.

"Sport has made me the person that I am and that is what I wanted to bring out. The current presenters are the ones we grew up watching, so for the next generation we want them to look up to somebody (and inspire them),” she says.

Kebalepile is excited of what the future holds as she hopes to make her dream come true.

“I will be bringing my authenticity in the way that I do things. Sport to me feels like home and SuperSport also feels like home especially going through the whole competition, that is where I see myself. Everyone will love how genuinely I am in it to win it,” she says.

Name: Lennox Wasara

Age: 29

Hometown: Pretoria, Gauteng

Although his ultimate dream was to become a professional golfer, Lennox Wasara is content that his life went a different direction.

He got introduced to golf at only 9 years old and seemed well on his way to becoming a professional. His talent earned him a place in the sought-after TuksSport High School which has seen some of the country’s top athletes being developed. Being in the sports academy sharpened his competitive edge.

Even though Lennox continued playing golf all the way to varsity, he was not getting as much time as he desired to be on the course.

“My intention was to go professional. I went to study and had to pivot, and I ended up having to spend more time in lecture halls than the golf course which was difficult. That is where I discovered the passion for broadcasting.

"There was an advert to join Tuks FM, I applied and I was there. I was doing sports and business when I started. I won an award for the business show that is the moment that I decided to take the broadcasting thing seriously,” explains Lennox.

AWARD WINNING

As an award-winning radio reporter, Lennox feels he is ready for a new challenge. Although the shift would be big, he is excited about the possibility of juggling both radio and television.

“I will be bringing the elements that I have learned in radio. I just want to serve the audience we have on SuperSport and have people like my family, who don’t always follow sport want to be interested in sports.

"Being on radio has given me a first-hand experience of how sport changes people’s lives. Sport is not just fun, it reflects a lot about what society looks like. The beauty of sport is that it is a broad and simplified way of understanding how the world works,” he says.

Name: Rebone Chobane

Age: 21

Hometown: Bloemfontein, Free State

After years of watching her favourite sports presenters on television, Rebone Chobane knew that this might be something she wanted to do someday.

The BCom Accounting student didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity when the SuperSport MVP Talent Search began.

“I entered the competition because a lifelong dream was presented in front of me. I saw the opportunity and I felt like I was called to take it because it is something that I have been wanting to do regardless of my studies.

"I have always seen myself on SuperSport. Seeing the opportunity present itself was something that meant a lot to me and I just decided to take the shot,” she says.

SACRIFICE

Rebone opted to sacrifice one love for another when she decided to relinquish her captaincy and leave the Nelson Mandela University cheerleading squad to work on her next dream of becoming a sports presenter.

She understands that the road is still long and she will have to work on some things in order to get in front of the camera and dazzle viewers.

“I was a cheerleader at my university since my first year and being in that environment and attending the Varsity Cup games made me want it even more.

"I quit being a cheerleader last year and came in this year with the sole purpose and focus on building my craft to becoming a sports presenter, focusing on making myself known in NMU. 

"Last year while cheerleading at a Proteas match against India, I saw SuperSport broadcasters and that felt more pressing for me to want to do it. I met Zenande (Funani), she gave me her microphone and that is when it solidified it for me that I have to pursue this.

"How I am going to go about it is still a work in progess,” she says.

Name: Sibonelo Zulu

Age: 27

Hometown: Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

The commentator bug bit Sibonelo Zulu over a couple of PlayStation games at church with his friends.

They would always switch off the volume from the games and compel Siboniso to try out the art. His friends convinced him that this is something that he could pursue.

“Everything manifested. SuperSport Schools was booming, it was fresh, high-school sport needed commentators and I nailed it. I became an integral part of SuperSport Schools in KZN. This is why I entered.

"I would love for the continuation and gradual growth to be there. My main beat is football but I always try to improve myself and put myself out there,” says Sibonelo.

When the opportunity to enter the SuperSport MVP Talent Search came, he didn’t hesitate to put his hands up. Being part of the main channel would be the most natural next step that he hopes to take. Becoming part of the next generation of English football commentators is a dream that he keeps working on, learning from current and former legends of the game.

CLICK, CLICK, BANG!

“Unfortunately God didn’t give me the ability to play football but I always wanted to be in the thick of things. I can’t even juggle a ball but I wanted to be part and parcel of that atmosphere. I know how to speak the game.

"The 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup are the most memorable sporting events in my life. I would listen to commentators, the like legendary John Helm and later Ian Darke and when Sizwe Mabena joined SuperSport his ‘Click, click, bang’ phrase made me fall in love with commentary. He had an influence on me,” he says.

His father was the biggest influence in his footballing journey. Not a lot of kids would reject the opportunity of earning a R5 coin by only doing the cross-bones sign.

Name: Moleboheng Tsoane

Age: 25

Hometown: Sasolburg, Free State

Hearing her home language on football commentary was enough to convince Moleboheng Tsoane that she too can be able to tell stories through the microphone.

She was inspired by the legends of SeSotho commentators in South Africa, Baba Mthethwa, Thabo Kofa and Maphale Moloi. Her journey, though, started with her providing pitch-side entertainment for her friends and other spectators at a local tournament.

Little did she know that the video her friend took while she was imitating commentators would trend and make her a sought-after commentator in her community.

SOCIAL SPARK

“It started off as a joke, I didn’t think it would grow to be something serious. My friend recorded me and posted the video on social media platforms. People loved what I did and I started getting invited to commentate at tournaments around the Vaal and Free State.

"I also got an opportunity to work on the DStv eKasi Champ of Champs in July and it was an amazing experience. It was the first time that I had to work with an earpiece, I was only used to just having a mic only when I do commentary at the tournaments that I usually work at,” says Moleboheng.

The experience she picked up in the Champ of Champs competition was enough to convince her to enter the SuperSport MVP Talent Search. She says not only did she want to test how far she has come but she wanted to learn more about the world of sports commentary and broaden her skills as well.

“After hearing Baba, Mr Cool and Maphale doing this, I thought I would like to do this as a woman. Inspire others too and make them fall in love with football through my commentary in SeSotho,” she says.

Name: Abongile Baleni

Age: 31

Hometown: East London, Eastern Cape

Watching his father cry in disappointment and express absolute delight in a space of 120 plus minutes was enough to prompt him to the wonderful and fascinating world of sport.

Abongile Baleni’s father broke down in tears while watching the 2005 Uefa Champions League final between his beloved Liverpool and AC Milan. The Reds lagged 0-3 behind at halftime only to make a comeback and win the title on penalties. This was enough to get Abongile to want to tell stories about the sport.

“That was the first time I saw my dad cry, within the next 20 minutes, Liverpool scored three goals and equalised. I saw my dad have so much joy.

"This thing has the ability to make my hero cry and then become happy in one sitting and I wanted to do that for others. That is when I truly fell in love with this amazing concept (sport), that was the moment that I was born,” he explains.

ANOTHER SHOT

This is not Abongile’s first shot at joining the World of Champions family. In 2015 SuperSport hosted open auditions for commentators for the second season of DStv Diski Challenge, formerly the Multichoice Diski Challenge.

He says the SuperSport MVP Talent Search is a chance that he was not going to miss after having worked on his craft for the last 10 years.

“I started trying to get into SuperSport in 2015 through the commentary search and got through the second round. That sparked my interest in broadcasting especially towards sport.

"Unfortunately I only made it into the second round of that competition. I spent the next 10 years crafting my skills as a broadcaster, so when I saw the opportunity to try again after that first heartbreak, I had to go back,” he says.