My journey into sport started at as a schoolboy. I was privileged to attend schools with a very strong sporting tradition, Sir John Kennedy Primary School and Jameson High School - both in Kadoma. It’s there that the bug bit.

Not only did the schools offer the opportunity for students to play, participate and horn their skills at grassroots level, they also provided media such as tv and sports magazines, as well as the legends of former students - all which served to inspire any student of sport.

Tv introduced me to Liverpool, the All-Blacks, Shane Warne, Peter Ndlovu. Radio commentators took me into Rufaro and Barbourfields before I’d ever set foot in either Harare or Bulawayo - their words bringing to life contests whose very result at times dictated the National mood.

So by the time I hit adulthood, the seeds had been sown and the passion for everything sport, well cultivated.

Fast-forward to 2004. I’m in the 2nd year of a fledgling Marketing and Advertising career with Gary Thompson & Associates when opportunity arose. THE BIG BREAK...

GTA was launching a sports show, but getting presenters proved harder than anticipated. We found @barrymanandi who matched our profile and also had experience with Joy TV.
A suitable partner proved elusive so I was forced by circumstances to step into the breach

Together with Gary we set up a winning team and a show that revolutionized sportscasting in Zimbabwe; Cimas International Sport.
G.Thompson was the Executive Producer. Steve Vickers the Producer and Rick Smith (Mega Video) was our director.

Fair to say the show was hit on ZTV

The next 15 years would see a whirlwind journey that would see me start a vibrant radio career first on Pockets Hill with SFM and PowerFM and now with @ZiFMStereo. It’s a journey that would also see me continental with @SuperSportTV

So it’s a career that’s incorporated Marketing & Advertising, Television, Radio and recently Sports Administration with the launch of @GoldenEaglesZim as well as my appointment to the ZIFA Northern Region Marketing Committee.

Media runs the world! It’s shaping your impression of the world and people in it. It’s created nations, started wars and brought about peace.
That’s why it’s a multi billion dollar industry and now virtually runs every industry on the planet - especially sport.

Billions are being made -a result of media’s involvement in sport, notably through TVrights. Before the advent of media plurality, sport was thankful for anything it could get for tv rights. But today, it’s a sellers market, with billions on offer for those with the right product

The Zim media sector too, offers unique opportunities across the service lines. With digital media increasingly pervasive, the limits have been completely removed. So it’s no longer about just sportscasting, but content creation, image shaping, and being an opinion leader.

The Sports sector in itself is greenfield in this country. Because it hasn’t been mined to even the smallest extent, it presents a myriad of opportunities to those that would consider it as a reasonable area of endeavor.

Why is it that we have always been told that sport is not a career, by parents, teachers, seniors from whom we are supposed to get guidance?
This has created a mentality and approach which has plagued sport locally, being viewed as a pastime more than a career.

No wonder many of our sporting luminaries have become global icons away from their homeland. Nick Price, Tendai Mtawarira, countless cricketers and more. Potential world beaters like Axcil Jefferies and Tanya Muzinda have struggled to attract any local investment in their talent

There are opportunities in being an athlete, trainer, sport science, retail and administration, among some of the areas one can dedicate themselves.
Sport is now a multi billion dollar global industry, just like mining, agriculture, or manufacturing and deserves more respect.

So if you’re considering a career in this sector, especially Sportscasting, I encourage you because it’s a bucket load of fun. But in that, there are a few things that you need to take note of...

PASSION drives you.
TALENT defines you.
TRAINING refines you.

You have to balance the 3 in order to build a credible personal brand.
Passion will motivate, but it needs to be backed by talent and your talent buttressed by training to maintain relevance in an ever-evolving field

Don’t let your ego drive you.

You will make mistakes, you will get it wrong, you will offend - and when you do, don’t be too proud to put your hand up.

Social Media has become the great equalizer - fans wield opinions and platforms to express them.
Sport is opinionated so there’ll always be occasion for disagreement. And when it does happen - be personable - you maintain respect. Be knowledgeable - you establish authority.

Popularity vs influence

When you operate on national/international platforms with audiences running into millions, it’s sometimes easy to miss the wood for the trees.

Aim to be effective not just famous - let fame be the consequence of the impact you make in people’s lives.

Your achievements will take you to the top, but your character will keep you there. Never compromise your integrity - it’s a lifetime investment and once lost, it’s always hard to regain.

Don’t be afraid to swim upstream.

Not everyone has to agree with you or applaud your work. Playing to the gallery will make you popular, but never accord you respect.

Respect comes out of credibility and consistency.

And when you’ve established yourself, Monetize your gift.

Unlock value in the properties that you’re creating on whatever platform - online, radio, tv etc - fame won’t pay the bills
If done properly, you’ll enjoy its rewards, fulfillment and longevity.