My experience job shadowing Kass Naidoo at the Telkom Netball League launch was a dream come true for me. I always knew I wanted to be in media from a young age. I was always the bubbly child who was never shy and Kass has always been someone I’ve admired and watched on TV growing up. Initially I applied for the gsport4girls social media internship at the beginning of the year, and I did not get it. When Kass extended the invitation for me to job shadow her, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves knowing it was an audition of sorts, a chance to prove myself worthy of such an opportunity.
Arriving at the Southern Sun Hotel in Sandton where the TNL Launch took place, I was filled with joy. I sensed that this experience could be the key to unlocking doors in the industry I’ve always dreamed of entering. Surrounded by familiar faces, from netball legends like Cecilia Molokwane, Jenny Van Dyk and Zanele Mdodana to the players themselves, I felt very comfortable with interviewing them and capturing the precious moments at the Telkom Netball League launch.
Throughout the day, Kass was there to support and guide me, helping whenever needed, which was great because I knew I had the right mentor and someone to look up to. I got the chance to interview remarkable figures like South Africa’s number one women’s sport supporter, Mama Joy, the Spar Proteas’ assistant coach Zanele Mdodana, and Nonsikelelo Mazibuko who plays as goal shooter for the Gauteng Jaguars.
Interacting with these individuals I long admired felt surreal, stepping into the spaces I’d always envisioned myself in. I felt so comfortable in the space feeling like I belonged. It was a moment of realisation—I belonged here.
The warmth and hospitality of everyone at the launch reinforced this sense of belonging. It was a stark contrast to what I had felt initially. This experience opened my eyes to a new perspective within the industry. I enjoyed taking content throughout the launch event and capturing the great moments.
My job shadowing experience led me to making my gsport TNL debut. Words cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity. I’m a lover of netball so getting to be on such a platform meant a lot to me, from being someone who used to play netball in school to covering the Telkom Netball League. Given this opportunity meant that I had to make a good impression and work hard at every task that I had to do and show that I am capable of performing at the standard of gsport.
This experience is teaching me a lot about the sports media industry and how broad it is. It is teaching me to be open minded and to try new things and not limit myself to just one thing in the industry. I am learning a lot about women in sport. I am learning bout the different netball teams and the coaches. I am learning how to conduct interviews and improve my social media skills through the gsport4girls initiative. This experience overall is teaching me about the necessary skills needed to equip me as an aspiring sports journalist.
Getting the opportunity to work with like-minded individuals and learning from them. This opportunity is allowing me to fully immense myself and to grow in ways I never imagined. The atmosphere at the Telkom Netball League was immaculate, from getting to know the players well as well as the coaches to interacting with the supporters. I am loving every bit of it, from the early mornings to the late nights working at TNL and getting to know other people from other media houses and learning a thing or two from them.
I would encourage any women looking to get into the sports media industry to start at gsport4girls. I know that it is not everyone who gets this opportunity but when you do grab it with both hands because it will open doors for you in the industry and you will get to do things that you have always dreamt of doing.
God opened this door for me, and I would not trade it for anything in this world. I will forever be grateful.
‘’Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure, it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us, we ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
– Marianne Williamson
Photo Caption: “Arriving at the Southern Sun Hotel in Sandton where the TNL Launch took place, I was filled with joy. I sensed that this experience could be the key to unlocking doors in the industry I’ve always dreamed of entering.” — Amu Banda blogs. All Photos: Supplied
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