In celebration of Mandela Day, gsport hosted a group of women in media for 67 minutes of online inspiration to better equip women in sport who want to work on the upcoming #GSPORT19 campaign.
Understandably the Momentum gsport Awards has become known as the pinnacle event when it comes to celebrating and recognising all the amazing women who are doing incredible things on and off the sports field.
On 1 May 2024 gsport put a call out to women in the industry who are interested in being part of this year’s #GSPORT19 campaign and the response has been rather astonishing with countless women wanting to be part of the prestigious event.
The journey to commission this year’s talent is underway and someone who has had a front-row view of what it takes be host the gsport Awards is Kea Bapela (née Motlokwa). The award-winning broadcaster first hosted the event in 2020, when the world was in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was during those trying times that gsport made the commitment to put money in the pockets of women in the industry. This meant the gsport team had to be creative in how they hosted the ceremony that year given the different protocols that needed to be in place at the time.
Bapela was outstanding in her MC’s duties and wowed all involved she then took the mic at #GSPORT18 and to make use of the well-known sports analogy … she knocked it out of the park … again!
So who better than Bapela to give a masterclass on what she feels will make this year’s host a success on stage at #GSPORT19?
“If you want to shine and thrive on that stage, you need to bring out your personality! The stage is so humongous, it’s intimidating at times. I think I was able to achieve that (success) by just purely being myself.”
MC of the 2023 Momentum gsport Awards, Kea Bapela
“Once you allow yourself to connect with the brand itself and understand what gsport stands for, understand what the Awards are about and why the Awards are the way they are it becomes easier to deliver the show.”
Bapela also highlighted how her hosting of the Awards speaks to the #PowerOfRecognition.
“It has been one of the biggest highlights of my career. When I am on the gsport stage I probably get the most mentions on my social media platforms. The doors that have opened is something we don’t talk about a lot, last year alone I was able to do so many things. I voiced a Netflix animation, that came from someone seeing me on the live broadcast (of the Awards).
“I went on to work with the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture all because somebody saw me on that stage. If it wasn’t for that stage there were so many opportunities that I would not have been able to get”, said Bapela.
SuperSport presenter and content producer Zenandi Funani graced the red carpet with the prestigious job of being the Voice of God in 2023. She shared how that opportunity not only gave her confidence in herself but also the conviction to try a new craft.
“It opened up my mind that maybe presenting is not the only thing that exists, maybe you should try different things, be behind the scenes, be in front of the camera, and work at different places within the industry.
“The red carpet was very different from anything I have ever done, I needed to pull myself together and I think it also created a great sisterhood,” said Funani. “Some people helped me a lot, they helped me be the person that I am today, and they pushed me. They were the sisters I needed to meet in the industry to be able to get to where I am.
“Today I am much more confident, and I think the gsport Awards is the point where everything in my life took a curve. My confidence went up, even at work people were starting to respect me. It was a great experience that gave me great exposure and feedback.”
SuperSport presenter and content producer, Zenandi Funani
Meanwhile, Zomusa Thango – who was part of the Digital Squad for #gsport18 – took a bold approach when it came to making sure she was part of the squad. Her dream came true, but not in the way she expected.
“I didn’t know about the Awards but I was already part of gsport in some way and when I saw the Awards I was like sign me up! I shot for the stars and I think I applied to host it and I just went full force for it,” said Thango.
“You can imagine entering this space with not much experience in the industry, but I said: ‘You know what? I want to be on the frontline!’”
“The outcome though showed just how young I was in the industry, but gsport still managed to find an opportunity for me to grow, where I was added to the Digital Squad.”
About gsport
gsport is South Africa’s leading women’s sport initiative, dedicated to promoting and celebrating women in sport. Through various programs and initiatives, gsport provides a platform for women athletes, coaches, and administrators to showcase their talents and inspire the next generation of women in sport. gsport is committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable society by advancing women’s sport in South Africa.
Main Photo Caption: In celebration of Mandela Day, gsport hosted a group of women in media for 67 minutes of online inspiration to better equip women in sport who want to work on the upcoming #GSPORT19 campaign. Photo: Supplied
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