Sports enthusiast and radio personality Noloyiso Bonga is among the finalists of the 2024 Momentum gsport Awards in the SABC Sport Women in Radio category.
The SABC Sports radio presenter and Umhlobo Wenene FM content producer is up against 702 and EWN Sport’s Tholakele Mnganga and Alex FM's Mahlodi Ranku.
This year’s winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Johannesburg on September 12.
The 38-year-old Gqeberha resident said the nomination was rewarding.
“I am grateful for the recognition as much as this is my career. But it becomes a bonus when there are people out there who value my work,” Bonga said.
“It means I am doing something right.
“Since I have been announced as a finalist, people have been voting for me and I truly appreciate their support, it means a lot to me.”
Bonga started her journey in sports media in 2007 at Nkqubela FM (KQ) as a news reader.
In 2013 she joined Mpuma Kapa TV former Bay TV as a news reader and sports presenter while still working for KQ.
In 2016 she joined SABC Sport.
Bonga represented SA on numerous occasions during her competitive days in karate, including in 2017 when she won a gold medal at the Region 5 Championships in Mozambique.
In 2018, she was ranked top of the pile in the Eastern Cape and in the top five in the country, which once more saw her compete in the Karate World Championships in Spain.
The multitalented Bonga also played for the Kwaru women’s team and is now playing cricket for Jendamark United Cricket Club and runs for Vukani Multi-Sport Club.
“Being in this industry is always a challenge for women; it's even worse when you are working in a male-dominated field like sports.
“Sometimes you feel like you are overworking yourself because you want to prove to people that you can do this.
“Also, you are not doing it for yourself, but as a woman when you get an opportunity in this industry you are also working towards paving the way or opening doors for other women coming after you.
“So I cannot afford to fail because I'll be failing them.”
Bonga was named Karate SA Woman of Year for 2019.
At the Liberty Radio Awards, she won Best Sports Show on PBS in 2019 while working as the content producer with the late Sithembiso “Sterra” Ngqezana.
In 2023 she won the Eastern Cape Sports and Recreation Achievers Award for best presenter in electronic media and received a special recognition award from SA Boxing.
To vote for Bonga, visit the gsport website https://gsport.co.za, and click on “Community”.
Entries close on August 31.
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