- Carol Tshabalala's passion for sports took her to global events like Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.
- She said she had to prove herself to be 100 times better than her male colleagues.
- A career highlight was hosting the 2009 FIFA Confederation Cup draw with Charlize Theron.
- She encourages aspiring sportscasters to have a passion and knowledge for sport and to get close to the teams behind the scenes.
South Africa’s first lady of sport keeps getting better.
Carol Tshabalala has been in the sports broadcasting game for 23 years and shows no signs of slowing down.
Being at the centre of some of the world’s most exciting sporting events like the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games plus returning as one of the Hollywoodbet and Durban July brand ambassador – along with Robert Marawa and new ambassadors Anlia and Eben Etzebeth – has made Carol a standout talent in the industry.
Overlooking the picturesque Indian ocean on the Umhlanga coast, TRUELOVE got the chance to dive into the impactful career of the seasoned sportscaster.
Destined for the stage
Carol’s career in sport has been nothing short of remarkable. Ever since kicking off her career as a sports news journalist on Kaya FM after graduating from Krugersdorp High School in 2000, she has since set the standard of sports journalism during her 10-year reign broadcasting for the SABC and then joining SuperSport International.
But the 42-year-old reveals to us that sportscasting is a career that chose her.
“I think I was destined to do this because when I was starting out 23 years ago, there was no standout female sportscaster. So, I never even knew that this was a career choice or an option that I would have. But what I did know, and growing up as well, amongst my family, I always had a passion for sports.
“I love the unifying factor, I love the fact that it brings people from different classes, different creeds, different cultures together. And just how happy we are as a collective when we're celebrating our favourite team and it's winning or how we collectively mourn when our team doesn't do that well. So, I've always been passionate about sports and always loved sports in general.”
READ MORE | Media mogul Thabile Ngwato on breaking boundaries – ‘The road to success is never without challenges’
Paving the way for women in sportscasting
From the men on the field to the sportscasting production crew, it’s no secret that the sports industry is one dominated by men. But Carol has been adamant about breaking boundaries for women to see that it is possible for them to make it.
Carol explains how lonely it was, especially in the beginning of her career, and how she broke the mould of the “boys club” that is sports broadcasting.
“When you are trying to get interviews in the dressing rooms, for example, because it's the gents that are there and the initial impression that they get is, ‘You want me, that's why you're here’.
“So, trying to prove that you're professional and you know what it is you're talking about, because it was very uncommon to see a woman pitch side, a woman talking to a big coach or anything like that. It was kind of like, ‘What is she doing here?’ So, I had to make sure that I was 100 times better prepared than my male counterparts.”
Going global and putting SA on the map
Carol’s determined and headstrong attitude throughout her career has proven her as a trailblazer and has taken her to all corners of the globe from Zurich to Australia.
But it was hosting the iconic 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup preliminary and final draw with the announcement of South Africa hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup that is a standout career highlight for her.
“That's when I got extremely close with the people that were at the helm of FIFA,” she explains.
“And then of course the final draw that I did with Charlize Theron, where there were billions that were watching and I remember the Secretary General at the time, Jérôme Valcke. Immediately after that event … he said, ‘If there’s anything that I can do for you, just say the word’ and I said, ‘I want to host the FIFA Ballon d'Or’, which is like the Oscars of football.
“I said, ‘I want to host the Ballon d'Or’, and he said, ‘Really? Ballon d'Or is nothing compared to what you've just done’. I said, ‘Well, nothing or not, that's what I wanted to do’. And he said, ‘Done’, and literally a couple of months later, I got the call.”
READ MORE | 5 minutes with broadcast presenter Bongani Bingwa
Dreams comes to life
Carol’s two-decade-long career has seen her witness the rise of sporting greats like Banyana Banyana legend Portia Modise and Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell.
But getting to that level is no easy feat. Carol has started her own foundation called Carol Cares where she hopes to provide mentorship for aspiring sportscaster. She gives us some insightful advice for those hoping to break into the industry.
“So, if you've got the passion for sports and you genuinely think that you can do it, I would say get as close as possible to the sport. So, whatever is your major sporting code, go out there, watch as many games as possible. Try to get close to the team behind the scenes. Get into the office, go and watch them training, get to know the people that are in charge behind the scenes.
“Have those kinds of conversations and you know what, it's so much easier now. We've got social media. You can start a blog, you can talk about the latest results, the tidbits that you found when you went to training that other people would not know about or other members of the media would not know about.”
