PROFILE - RELEBOGILE MABAWA: YFM anchor chasing a SuperSport dream

Name: Relebogile Mabawa

Age: 25

Hometown: Sebokeng, Gauteng

The media or broadcasting space is not usually associated with people who are introverted. Relebogile Mabawa, howver, knows how to play his cards right.

Describing himself as an introvert with outspoken tendencies, Relebogile uses this personality to his advantage. In introverted times, he uses it to listen, observe and get to understand people and his surroundings, and when his outspoken tendencies come out, he is able to reel in those listening to him.

“SuperSport is a brand and a broadcasting company that I have always wanted to work for. The first time I felt I had direction on what I wanted to do was when I watched SuperSport cover the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I was still a kid but I remember people in studio in suits while others were pitch side with the branding on them and it looked so attractive.

TIMELY OPPORTUNITY

"But it also spoke to an interest that I carried for a little while. Watching them talking about the game connected with me in a way that I cannot describe. The opportunity to enter and hopefully find my way into SuperSport felt very timely,” he explains.

The Way Up sports anchor on YFM started his sports presenter journey at campus radio four years ago, UJ FM, where his team was nominated at the Telkom Radio Awards on two different shows. Although he is yet to win a radio award, he is proud of how far he has come.

“It has been incredible, a journey that has been eye opening and an amazing educational experience for me because I got to learn about commercial broadcasting. Campus radio was great but it is very foundational, so at this level you get to learn the business side as well.

"The professionalism of broadcasting is something that I picked up a lot more when I started working here,” he says.