By Monwabisi Jimlongo
The voice of Ukhozifm’s Joseph ‘Joe’ Hudla is back on your radio delivering fine and witty sport commentary.
Popularly known as Ntshosho among his peers, the veteran commentator has returned to the airwaves after an absence of more than a year.
Hudla, who worked in countless sport productions, retired from the SABC at the end of 2019 after spending almost 40 years working for the public broadcaster.
It was, however, difficult to ignore Hudla and let him retire completely while he’s still energetic. That is why Ukhozifm bosses made a call to Hudla asking him to pick up the microphone again.
“SABC regulations stipulate that all full-time employees must resign or go on pension as per the corporation’s regulations pertaining to full-time staff members when they reach age 63,” Hudla said.
“When that period came for me I did mention during the exit interview that I will always be available to make a come back for sport commentary whenever an opportunity arises. And I have always been encouraged by people saying why don’t I take a cue from veteran commentators like Martin Tyler, who is still going strong.”
Hudla, who was born in Mahlabathini more than six decades ago, joined the SABC in 1981 as an assistant personnel officer after obtaining a university degree.
He was employed to assist in the recruitment of staff for the then TV 2 and 3, which were meant for black people during the apartheid era. He only got to do sport commentary in 1983.
“I only got to become a commentator by chance when a scheduled commentator failed to pitch up for a recording. I took over as a stand-in and never looked back,” Hudla revealed.
In the same year Hudla got an opportunity to travel to eSwatini to cover a tour by Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Hudla’s journey as a television commentator was not an easy one as he copped criticism mainly from print media journalists.
“There were so many challenges during those times when we started as television commentators. We had to contend with severe criticism from some print media columnists with some of it misplaced,” Hudla said.
“With radio, the chance presented itself when I was approached by Reverend Hawu Mbatha, who was the first black station manager at Ukhozifm, to join the station as a commentator in 1990. I followed in the footsteps of my idols like Thetha Masombuka, Koos Radebe, Bhekisisa Kunene and Phillip Zwane.”
The father of four children has won many awards both as a radio and TV commentator. He has also travelled to a number of countries including eSwatini, Egypt, Lesotho, Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Mali, Botswana, Malawi, Brazil, Peru, Saudi Arabia, United States of America, France and Australia.
Hudla has revealed that he’s been encouraged to start a school for football broadcasting. However, placement remains his biggest problem due to lack of opportunities in the broadcasting industry.
#Catch Joe Hudla on Ukhozifm giving you the Soweto derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates at 15h30 on Saturday.
