Gaone Kerileng: “Believing in Yourself Can Make You a Winner”

Gabz FM Sport Reporter and Content Aggregator, Gaone Kerileng has vast experience working in the sport media space, as she shares advice to guide young women who aspire to work in the industry.

Hailing from Serowe and currently living in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana, Kerileng says sport is in her DNA as she grew up playing football amongst the boys in her village.

Since then, Kerileng took her passion for sport and turned it into a career path off the field.

As part of her credentials, Kerileng has worked as Media Officer for COSAFA, as well as the CAF African Schools Football Championships.

Some of her career highlights include being appointed as U17 Girls Media Liaison in 2017 for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as receiving her first ever Electronic Journalist of the Year accolade at the Botswana Karate Association Annual Awards.

With her experience and knowledge in the game, Kerileng aims to own a podcast and a media training academy to assist athletes and administrators in sport.

Speaking with Tlamelo Kganakga, Kerileng chats more about her journey and shares the current state of women in the sport media industry in Botswana.

Hi Gaone, thank you for chatting to us. Please tell us about yourself and where you come from.

Hello and thank you for the interview. My name is Gaone Pearl Kerileng also known as “Miz G”. My home village is Serowe but I am currently based in the capital city, Gaborone in Botswana.

I am currently working and also schooling. I am regarded as one of the best even though they are saying I undermine myself. I am more into women in sport, especially football as I once played. I am from an extended family, and everything was great as we were growing. I grew up playing mostly with boys and some were even not sure about my gender despite having a big hair and plaiting. If I can share a lot about me, I guess it will take a decade because there is a lot to share about myself.

When and where did you love for sport begin?

I would say sport is in my DNA and also the drug that I really abuse. My love for sport started when I was still young – I was about seven years old. I used to play with my cousins who were boys when it came to football but other traditional sport codes I played with my friends. I enjoyed football more, unfortunately at that time there was no women’s football.

What do you do at Gabz FM?

I am a Content Aggregator, all-round reporter and sport host. Content Aggregator is an individual that gathers content from different sources for use. I also make sure that shows run as planned and they are tailored to key audience demographics, sourcing potential contributors and interviewees. Some of my roles as Content Aggregator include generating ideas and managing the audience response after on-air product.

Recently, you were appointed as Media Officer for CAF African Schools Football Championships. How did the opportunity come about and how was the experience?

Honestly, it didn’t come as a shock or surprise. I have been working with COSAFA since 2018 as their Media Officer and contributor. So, when I got the call up, I knew it’s time to deliver and a new challenge and opportunity as it was the new tournament and did not know much about it. But, we did well and everyone was impressed.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in your journey and how did you overcome them?

Less support as far as being questioned about my achievements. Wide range of online violence including abusive language, harassing private messages, threats to damage my career and some of the media personnel telling sport leaders untruth things about me.

What has been some of your career highlights to date?

Appointed as under 17 girls media liaison in 2017 for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the next day I won my first ever award as Electronic Journalist of the year at Botswana Karate Association Annual Awards.

In 2018, I became COSAFA Media Officer up to date and 2020, I was placed 9th on the African rankings for AIPS Sport Media Awards. Also, I’m a Woman in News graduate.

Who are some of the sportswomen you admire and why?

I do love myself and the progress I have done so far looking at where I’m coming from. So, most of the people are looking up to me.

How’s the state of women in sport media in Botswana compared to other countries in Africa?

It is really not easy, as women we are not supporting each other, and other achievements can even be questioned. Women are really not given the chance as compared to their male counterparts, yet they are currently doing well. There is a big improvement but there is a long way to go.

Where do you think we need to improve and why is it important for women to take space in the sport space?

We should publish great stories and be protected when it comes to investigative stories. We must also do away with stereotypes, be more into balanced reporting. To be inspiring role models and show men and women as equals. As women, we can and we do not have to make a point or try please anyone, our delivery says it all.

What has been some of the lessons you have learned along the way in your journey and shaped you to be where you are now?

I have learnt that not everyone in the media industry will support you and not everyone will love what you do or your achievements. So, l had to be strong and not listen to any negativity about me.

What is your greatest career ambition?

I would love to have my own podcast and own media training school because I have realized that administrators and athletes really struggle when it comes to interviews, so I want to close that gap. So, having my own Media Training School is really what I’m currently working on.

What is it that people don’t know about you?

I am very shy and reserved but don’t mind calling someone out and I am a straight talker. I am very generous and loving.

What’s your advice to young women who want to get into the sport media space?

Believing in yourself can make you a winner; they have to be sure if they really want to be sport journalists. They should follow their passion, be critic and soak up as much as they can.

They should be kind to their competition, especially other women as it will not be easy as they might not even be welcomed. Working hard and always getting facts right will take them far and always thinking outside the box.