The Corner Flag: Patience is a virtue
Trust the process and the rewards will find you when the time is right.
Two years ago, when I launched this column after the 2022 Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Excellence awards in Cape Town, I did so with one simple premise – trust the process.
Back then I believed that consistent effort, honest storytelling and a passion for local sport would one day bear fruit, even if the rewards weren’t immediate. It was about building, learning and keeping faith in the journey.
On Friday evening, that belief came full circle as I proudly walked away with two honours – editorial comment and columns and Alet Roux Trophy for best newcomer – at the 2024 FCJ Excellence awards gala in Stellenbosch.
It wasn’t just a personal victory but a powerful reminder that patience, persistence and purpose do pay-off – often when you least expect it.
These awards are more than shiny plaques. They represent every late night spent perfecting a paragraph, every interview squeezed in between deadlines and every match report written in the rain.
They are a celebration of the countless lessons learned along the way and the unwavering support from colleagues, mentors and readers, like Ted Jarvis and Cedric Summersgill, who believe in this column.
Most importantly, they reaffirm the value of telling our local sporting stories with heart and integrity. Because when we trust the process – whether on the field or behind the pen – we create a platform where hard work meets recognition and passion inspires possibility.
While the award for columns means the world to me, the Alet Roux trophy carries even more weight because of what Alet Roux, former editor of the Southern Cape Forum, stood for and meant to our industry.
Alet was murdered in December 2000 while investigating farm attacks – killed in the line of duty seeking the truth behind brutal farm murders. Her killers tried to silence her but her influence continues to resonate today.
What Alet did mirrors exactly what this column aims to do. We fight for the athlete. We advocate for well-maintained sporting facilities, fair treatment and recognition of every achievement. We offer encouragement in moments of defeat and celebration in moments of triumph.
When the City of Ekurhuleni demands that rate-paying residents pay to use the Boksburg City Stadium, neglects to maintain Sinaba Multipurpose Stadium and allows facilities like the Western Extension tennis courts to fall into disrepair, we call it out – just as Alet did when she questioned the scourge of farm attacks.
I will cherish these awards for the rest of my life and will continue to use this platform to fight the good fight.
To my readers, fellow journalists and the sports community, thank you for walking this journey with me and inspiring every edition of The Corner Flag. These awards may carry my name, but they belong to all who believe in local stories and the passion that fuels them.
To anyone chasing a dream – stay patient, consistent and true to why you started. Trust the process and the rewards will find you when the time is right.
Also Read: COLUMN: The Corner Flag – It’s about trusting the process
Also Read: The Corner Flag: Athletes should take the spotlight, not administrators
