In the bustling streets of Soweto, Kamogelo Mogale, widely recognized as KamzaDeSport in the football community, was molded by a family deeply entrenched in sports. From football fanatics to marathon runners, his upbringing was steeped in athletic fervor. As a sports presenter and journalist, Kamogelo adeptly intertwines diverse sporting passions, allowing his work to resonate with enthusiasts across various athletic disciplines.

His educational journey commenced at St. Peter Claver Primary School in Pimville, followed by St. Matthews Private Secondary School in Rockville. However, it was his pursuit of a deeper understanding of storytelling and performance that led him to AFDA, where he immersed himself in the study of drama, carving a unique path that eventually merged with his love for sports journalism.

Sports writer Tebogo Motebejane reflects with Kamogelo on how his journey into sports journalism commenced.

Tebogo: What inspired you to pursue a career in sports journalism and presenting?

Kamogelo: My mentor, Mosibodi Whitehead, is the one who inspired me to pursue a career in sports journalism and presenting. While he was still the sports editor at Kaya FM, I used to call in and comment and give my input on his topics. I then sent him a DM on X asking to shadow him, and as they say, the rest is history.

Tebogo: Could you share a pivotal moment or experience that influenced your career path in sports media?

Kamogelo: The pivotal moment has to be seeing how my mentor (Mosibodi) covered the 2018 FIFA World Cup and allowed me to be part of his team in carrying out the screening of the tournament live at Kaya Studio. Listeners also participated in sports trivia questions to win prizes and put a smile on the listener’s face, and that made me want to follow a career path in sports media.

Tebogo: How did you get your start in the sports journalism industry, and what were some early challenges you faced?

Kamogelo: Having gained the experience I got from my time at Kaya FM with Mosibodi, I then had to go out there and find my voice and feet elsewhere. I didn’t know what to do or where to go as I was just starting out, and I had doubts that any media house would look to hire me, and that alone was a challenge I faced starting out in sports journalism.

Tebogo: What do you find most rewarding about your role as a sports presenter and journalist?

Kamogelo: What’s most rewarding about my role as a sports presenter and journalist is having to wake up every morning and tell stories. I come from a background of drama and performance where Stanislavski says an actor prepares. Also, I wouldn’t be doing what I do without my team, so having to constantly have diary meetings and brainstorming sessions on how we are going to tell sports stories, being the voice of the voiceless, and giving them a platform to tell stories from their point of view is most rewarding for me.

Tebogo: How do you stay updated with the latest sports news and trends to maintain credibility in your reporting?

Kamogelo: I have quite a lot of sports media groups and apps on my phone, so on a daily basis I’m able to see what’s trending, what’s the latest headlines, and what people and fellow sports journalists are talking about. That’s how I’m able to stay updated, and in terms of maintaining credibility in my reporting, that means engaging with fellow journalists privately or at conferences about particular stories and setting up interviews with the relevant people or people in question on trends so as to have the correct facts and stories in order to report accordingly without having to cross any lines.

Tebogo: Can you describe a particularly memorable or challenging interview you’ve conducted with an athlete or coach?

Kamogelo: A memorable interview has to be with The Phiri Boys Oratile (11) and Amohelang (9), aspiring MotorGP drivers. Their story was beautiful to tell, and I must say that they are on their way to becoming like their role model, Brad Binder, a South African making it in the sport of MotorGP.

Tebogo: What advice would you give to aspiring sports journalists or presenters looking to enter the field?

Kamogelo: My advice is to be yourself. As cliché as it may sound, always remain yourself, be humble, show up, and do the work with love, respect, passion, and commitment. Listen to other presenters, find warmth in their weaknesses, and find your voice and niche, which will make you stand out from the rest.

Tebogo: How do you prepare for live broadcasts or reporting on major sporting events?

Kamogelo: Diary sessions with my team and also attending media conferences of the different teams are how I prepare for live broadcasts, as I’m able to get content and see what angle I’m going to use for the different stories, and that also helps me to see which analyst I need to get to give me a different perspective.

Tebogo: How has the landscape of sports journalism and presenting changed during your career, particularly with the rise of social media and digital platforms?

Kamogelo: The landscape has changed drastically. From engaging with fellow journalists who have been in the field much longer than I am, they have told me that they used to attend press conferences with just a pen, notepad, and recorder, but now things have changed. We now attend press conferences using our phones, cameras, and high-tech equipment, as it has made life easier in a way as we are able to file our stories straight after the press conferences. We don’t have to wait to get to our offices to file our stories, so things have changed drastically from how they were done back then.

Tebogo: What do you believe sets apart exceptional sports presenters and journalists from the rest?

Kamogelo: Exceptional sports presenters and journalists are always on the ground. They don’t wait to be told to do their work and how they should do their work. They tell stories not because they want to be the first to release the story or headline, but because they tell stories on the basis of the truth element in them, cross-examining the facts, and knowing that they got the stories firsthand by attending and showing up for pressers and having spoken to the relevant people.

In the vibrant world of sports journalism, Kamogelo Mogale, the charismatic KamzaDeSport, stands as a testament to the power of merging personal passions with professional endeavors. His upbringing in the spirited environs of Soweto, amidst a family brimming with sports enthusiasts of varied disciplines, laid the foundations for his inclusive approach as a sports presenter and journalist.