By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The soft voice of Bathabile Mabena continues to deliver flawless sport commentary on Ikwekwezi FM.
Born 43 years ago, Mabena dreamt of standing in front of learners and teach them. But it was never to be as she ended up behind the microphone after she got her break into radio in 2004.
“My dream was to become a teacher because I love to talk and advise people,” Mabena, who is a third born in her family, remarked.
Instead of teaching a few learners, Mabena got a chance to teach a massive audience via her sport commentary on radio.
Listeners might have grown to enjoy Mabena’s work, but they don’t know that it has not been an easy journey for her as she had to navigate through ‘potholes’ in order to be where she is today.
“I have met some challenges in this journey as women were not recognised in the field of commentary, especially in our black communities,” the married mother of two boys and a girl said.
The princess from AmaNdebele kaManala, who is the first Ndebele woman to do football commentary, wishes to become a club owner one day.
“My dream is to see all women being treated in the same way as men in sport. I also want to have my own team and become one of the managers in the organisation of sport,” she concluded.
In almost two decades behind the microphone, Mabena has rubbed shoulders with some of the best talent on radio. And she said that she learnt a lot from everyone she worked with on SABC radio sport productions.
**Catch Mabena doing the Kaizer Chiefs- Royal AM match live on Ikwekwezi FM from FNB Stadium on Saturday (17h00).
