I remember playing every kind of sport we knew how to with
my brother in our backyard while growing up as kids… We had a lot of fierce
battles in our time and although he won most of our Test matches and derbies, I
like to think I was stiff competition for him despite being 4 years younger.
For some strange
reason though, when I think back to those contests, I remember us doing it just
like they did on TV. We went all out. If we played cricket Tests, we had pitch
reports, pre-match interviews and commentated throughout the game. If we played
football we’d have pre match build up discussions and analysis, interviews with
coaches and star players. We did it all. I’m sure we could’ve taught the SABC
and Supersport a thing or two. We were really good at it.
Growing up, I had this dream that I’d grow up and play
cricket for the Proteas or football for Ajax Cape Town or rugby for the Sharks.
I was a young boy from a small town in the Eastern Cape with no idea how big the
country was or how many little boys wanted to play professional sport when they
grew up. I thought my brother and I were the 2 most talented kids anywhere
because we dominated against the other kids in our street. Give me a bike; I’d
leave any other kid eating my dust. I might have even had dreams of being a
motorsport champion. No one could tell me I wasn’t good.
But somewhere along the way, probably in high school when I
discovered girls and parties I might have realised as good as I might have
been, I wasn’t the most talented kid around and that I wasn’t prepared or
motivated enough to put in the work and sacrifices some kids were making so
that they could reach the next level and make it in pro sports later on. However,
one dream I kept firmly was making a success of myself in the media. It wasn’t
part of the original vision, but it was such a big part of our adventures, it
became one of the dreams that took up a big part of my life.
This past week, that dream came true. Monday the 31st
of March marked the official beginning of my career in broadcasting. I took up
the position of sports anchor on Kovsie FM’s afternoon drive show, the Vodacom
Drive from 3 to 6pm. I wouldn’t be foolish enough to believe I’ve made it now,
but it’s been a great start. The rush of being on live radio and being with an
incredibly talented group of people is more amazing than anything I could’ve imagine
in the backyard at number 10 Tafelberg Road, Bergsig. I think to myself, if
this is how it is in the beginning how much more sensational can it get?
One thing though, I’m so thankful for those many days I spent
playing with and against my brother. I wouldn’t have loved sport as much or
been doing what I do now.
