For the final gsport IG Live of the year, it was only fitting that we end the year with 2022 Momentum gsport Awards Mail and Guardian Woman in Print winner, Mpumi Manyisi.
In 2022, Manyisi carved her space in the sport media space and grew in leaps and bounds. She amplified her presence as an anchor on Jozi FM and assumed a role as a Sports Anchor, she cemented her place as the leading writer at Far Post and joined the eTV Morning Show as a Content Producer.
“2022 has been a massive year for me, not because of industry standards but because of the standards I had personally for myself, the things I wanted to achieve, I’ve ticked a lot of boxes this year. It’s been amazing, it’s been a great year.
“This industry demands us to move quickly you can’t sleep on your accolades, there’s always the next move. When I was reflecting on the year I’ve had and I was like “Geez I did that?”
Interestingly Manyisi was named as gsport’s woman to watch in 2021 and she surprised herself as well.
“One thing about gsport is how you believe in us when you don’t really see yourself as befitting. I saw the article and felt pressure but when I sit now I think of my gsport award. It’s such a treasure for me, I barely even take it out of the package.”
Manyisi’s other incredible achievement was being part of the contributors of documentary covering Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies called “Banyana Ba Style”. She reflected on the amazing work done at Chloorkop: “I want to give a shout out to the management at Mamelodi Sundowns, they have protected the ladies and sort of built a safety space for them. It’s about family. When they started achieving and winning I wasn’t shocked.”
And that is something people can learn from the Sundowns management – how to adequately support women athletes.
“If we can build from that and protect the ladies. When we create programmes for athletes we have to create specific programs that allow women to be women and go through what women go through daily. We need to have systems that speak to that and say come as you are.”
For women in sport media, 2022 has seen incredible growth and a shift where up and coming talent like the likes of Naledi Aphane stood in for Robert Marawa on Vuma FM, Itumeleng Banda getting a breakfast show on Vision View Sports Radio and Rachel Makhura joining Newzroom Afrika to mention a few.
“That says to all of us, there’s no need to compete, all of us can get our share. There is a gap for all of us but it’s about where do you fit in, place yourself nicely. You just have to wait for your time. You have to be wise enough to understand timing. Sometimes it’s not your time and that’s okay. If it wasn’t a great year for you it’s character building and it’ll be a better year next year.”
With 2023 being a World Cup year and gsport initiating #WorldCupWednesday, Manyisi says: “It’s our time, next year we’ll have amazing stories to tell. It’s time to ask ourselves, where do I fit it? It’s incredible to see how South Africa is once again been tasked to host these tournaments. We also see Media Houses like Supersport who are entrusting women to lead the broadcast of the World Cup. It’s amazing for our sporting fraternity. Let’s treat these events with respect.”
Her ambitions for 2023: “I want to grow as a person, grow as a leader, I want to mentor young girls. Get better as a content producer.”
To conclude on our final IG Live of the year: “It’s amazing what football has done for me – I’ve bought a home for myself, the sport has done so much for me. For me it was never work, it was do what you love and amplify that.”
May your 2023 be as amazing as Manyisi’s 2022 – remember to “do what you love and amplify on that.”
Photo 1 Caption: Mpumi Manyisi pictured on stage at the 2022 Momentum gsport Awards as she received the Mail and Guardian Woman in Print accolade on Wednesday, 14 September. Photo: gsport
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