“Some people still believe that a woman has no place in sport,” says sports presenter Mpho Maboi about making it in a male-dominated industry.
When and how did your love for sports begin?I've always loved sport. Since being introduced to football by my father many years ago, it's been a passion of mine. Being a tomboy means I also spent a lot of time with my male friends watching different sport.
Were you not afraid to pursue it since sports have always been seen as a man’s job?Not at all! With the likes of Cynthia Chaka and Carol Tshabalala having already paved the way, there was nothing to worry about. Besides even in my IT career, I'd been used to being the only woman in many male teams. So this was nothing new to me.
What were some of the challenges you faced in the beginning as a woman in sports and how did you overcome them?The challenges are always the same. Some people still believe that a woman has no place in sport. But over time I think this is becoming easier on those watching.
Lets talk about METRO FM. How has the move been?Before Metro, I had been off radio for over five years, so coming back to this medium was amazing.
Moving from 12–3 pm to primetime, what does that mean for your career?The move has been awesome. I must say being at Metro FM has been very good to my career. I've gotten the opportunity to sit in on Robert Marawa's show and now being part of the all-new drive time show has been amazing.
Other than Metro FM, what else are you working on?I host a sport talk show on SABC1 called Full Coverage at 1.30pm on Saturdays. I'm also heading off to the Rio Olympics as part of the SABC Sport team so I'm looking forward to the experience.
What advice would you give a sports journalism female student who wants to pursue the sports industry?Do your research. Love what you're doing and stay true to yourself. You'll have fun. This is a great space to work in.
