Faheedah Crouch’s Rising Star

Durban University of Technology journalism student and rising sports anchor, Faheedah Crouch is determined to change the direction of sport to empower women and champion disability sport in the country.

Growing up, the current Durban Youth Radio Sports Anchor and technical producer, showed a keen interest in sport as she played soccer, rugby and cricket.

At the time, she was also introduced to writing, where she developed a love for storytelling.

Going into tertiary education, Crouch admits that her focus was on becoming a sport’s physiotherapist, however due to unforeseen circumstances, she opted to study journalism, which was her second choice.

Today, she is content with her decision as she gets to live her dream of interviewing legends and current sports stars.

Speaking with Celine Abrahams, Crouch shares insight into how the younger generation in media can change the face of women’s sport and her aspirations.

Thank you so much for chatting to us! Please introduce yourself and tell us more about you.

I am Faheedah Crouch, a Durban University of Technology journalism student originally from Northern KwaZulu-Natal’s Richards Bay and rising sports anchor.

Where does your passion for sport and storytelling come from?

My passion for sport comes from my school days. I enjoyed playing the kind of sports that the other girls around me would not play. If I wasn’t playing Pophuisie or Skipping Rope, I was on the other side of the field playing soccer with the boys, rugby or in the cricket nets with a bat in hand.

“I joined a writing club in 2012, I think I was in grade 9 at the time. I didn’t join it willingly because it was a Saturday morning activity, and Saturday mornings to a teenager means sleep.” – DYR Sports Anchor, Faheedah Crouch

It was only in high school when I started playing for the school team and competing with other schools. At the same time, I was introduced to writing. Not the English Paper 3 kind of writing, but actual storytelling. I joined a writing club in 2012, I think I was in grade 9 at the time. I didn’t join it willingly because it was a Saturday morning activity, and Saturday mornings to a teenager means sleep. But every Saturday, my friend’s parents made it their duty to pick my sister and I up for the Dancing Pencils.

Has it always been a dream of yours to get into the media industry?

Not at first, no. I wanted to be a sport’s physiotherapist, but circumstances did not allow for it to happen so the journalism path was sort of like a backup. I just knew that I wanted to be in the sports industry somehow. When I started in community radio in Kimberley I realised that this is what I want do, and what brought me to the realization of this was the fact that the view from the newsroom of where I was working at the time was the Tafel Lager Griqua field and I was like, “I want to know what’s going on there.”

Being able to witness the Cravenweek tournament and seeing young ladies compete and represent their provinces and talking to these young people about these competitions, attending cricket matches in real life for the first time, talking about it in studio and having the opportunity to have conversations with the likes of former Paralympian swimmer, Charl Bouwer to speak about their journeys. It was and still is thrilling to me. 

What is it about sport that captivates you?

I think it is the commitment in players and athletes not just to their teams, but to the sport. The mental strength to just keep going no matter what. I mean we have women in sport who are not being paid or not receiving the recognition they deserve for their work, yet they are on the field performing. It is the all or nothing spirit for me.

What is your current position at Durban Youth Radio and when can listeners tune in to listen to you?

I am currently a Sports Anchor on the Music and Lunch show weekdays from 12pm to 3pm and a technical producer for the SportUnlocked show every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – I like to call myself the rookie of the Wednesday show because it is an all-women’s sport show and one day when I’m big (chuckles) I want to be like Chuma Felicia Mfunda and Jamie De Bruyne.

As a young woman coming up in the industry, which women in sport inspire you and why?

I’m going to go far back with this one, but it has always been Natalie du Toit for me. Again it’s that drive that she had as an athlete who probably somewhere along her career was told that “she’s not able”, and I can imagine the journey and how tough it must have been, yet she is a G.O.A.T of note with gold medals under her belt for competing in the Paralympics and Commonwealth Games.

What are your thoughts on the state of women’s sport in the country?

“The sport fraternity is still too much of a man’s world. Though there is change, I think more needs to be done.” – Crouch speaks on the state of women’s sport in the country.

 

They deserve more. More sponsors and more support from us. Women in sport in South Africa have proven their worth representing the country, yet, they’re given the back seat. I think it’s taking too long for these women to be recognised as “professional athletes” from the field to the papers. We see it also in the reporting. The sport fraternity is still too much of a man’s world. Though there is change, I think more needs to be done and I think it must start with us as the writers and sportscasters to report on performances of sportswomen and be the drivers of these conversations.

When did you come across gsport and what are your thoughts on the initiative?

I think in 2016, when I first started out. I think gsport is the fire that was ignited in women sport reporting that has spread and is becoming the wildfire that we need in the world of sport right now.

In your opinion, how can we as the younger generation in media make a difference to ensure that young girls know that it is possible to get into a male-dominated space both on and off the field?

Let us stop calling a certain sport a “mans sport”. Football is not a male sport, it is a sport, with a ball that you play. Netball is not a female sport; it is a sport with a ball that you play. I think that is where we need to begin. I think shaping young girls mentally is so important and it is in what we say.

How has your family supported your career choice?

My family has helped me so much in believing that I can strive in this industry. I remember when I first started, my parents said to me, “Faheedah, go, you have your foot in the door, and if you work hard, you’ll achieve what you want.” I live for going home or calling my cousin or best friend to tell them that I met this person this week, or that person followed me on Twitter. It is huge for me. I feel like I’m supported and inspired by the people that I love just by them existing and being successful in what they do. I’m blessed, honestly.

Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years in the industry?

I never know how to answer this question because 5 years ago no one anticipated 2020 and her eventful outcome…

On a serious note though, I see myself working in the big leagues. I remember once being in a SuperSport truck on a tour of how satellite broadcasts work and thought, “This is where I want to be. This is what I want to do.” And, taking that into consideration, I want to uplift, swerve the direction of sports and brighten the light on those who need the empowerment, which is women and disability sports.