Barberton sports presenter is last journalist standing

BARBERTON – Barberton Community Radio (BCR) sports presenter, Clement Mthembu said he wishes his favourite soccer team, Spanish club Barcelona FC, will be among the two sides to compete in next year’s UEFA Champions League final.

The final will take place at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid, Spain on June 1.

Mthembu is already guaranteed to be among the 68 000 soccer lovers from all over the world who will attend when the final kicks off next year at the home ground of Spanish club Atlético Madrid.

This is after Mthembu won the MTN 8 Last Journalist Standing (LJS) competition.

His prizes included R10 000 in cash and an all-expenses-paid trip to Spain to watch next year’s EUFA Champions League final.

“Thanks MTN. It has not been a walk in the park for me to end up as the eventual winner of this competition. I knew it was not going to be easy when I entered the competition. But as it progressed, I gained belief that I will make it. Now that I have made it, I wish that my favourite team, Barcelona, will be in the final come June 1,” said Mthembu.

He joined the station in 2012 as a sports presenter. His shows are aired on Friday from 18:00 to 19:00, Saturday, 15:00 to 18:00, Sunday 15:00 to 18:00 and on Monday 20:00 to 21:00.

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Mthembu encouraged his fellow broadcasters, especially at community media houses, not to be discouraged by the fact that they are not being paid as much as their counterparts working at established radio stations.

He said his determination for radio sees him sleeping on a couch at BCR studios from Friday to Monday, as he can’t afford transportation fees from and to work on those days. He resides in KaNyamazane.

“As broadcasters, we are given almost similar hours in our slots like those at an established radio. Yes, it is a fact that they (public and commercial radio stations) are paying them fat cheques whereas we are receiving peanuts. But it is important to enjoy your jobs here at community radio station first and the fat cheques will come later, because they will recognise you if you are a hard worker,” added Mthembu.

The 2018 MTN 8 tournament provided a platform to recognise and reward journalist and media houses by pitting them against each other in a competitive football-related quiz. The quiz was online and journalists were ranked on a leaderboard until the one, ultimate winner was determined based on aggregate. Mthembu emerged as the overall winning journalist.

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Mapula Bodibe, executive for consumer business at MTN SA, said, “The re-introduction of MTN 8 Last Journalist Standing, which follows a similar concept and format as LFS, is MTN’s way of thanking journalists for their continued support over the past 11 years.”

She said the competition was also a great opportunity to build new and existing relationships with media in the sporting space through the MTN 8 sponsorship.

“The LJS competition has given us the opportunity, as a network provider, to give back to various communities where we operate. With Mthembu being from BCR, it also allows us as MTN to reaffirm our commitment to community media,” said Bodibe.

Mduduzi Manana, BCR station manager, congratulated Mthembu for his achievement.

“I have been saying that BCR is the university of radio in the country. We groom broadcasters every year and they are being poached by other bigger radio station. We don’t get demotivated in grooming them as we continue to do so. Mthembu’s achievement is the testimony of the good job we are doing here at BCR. His win is not just for him as an individual, but also for the station’s profile. Having to compete with national and established media houses in the country and coming out on top is a great achievement for him and the station,” said Manana.

He assured Mthembu that when he departs for Spain next year, they will ensure that they will have raised some funds for his pocket money, despite the station operating on a constrained budget.