COSAFA recently hosted a groundbreaking two-day workshop exclusively for female commentators, marking a historic milestone for African broadcasting. Led by renowned expert Mark Gleeson, the workshop provided participants from Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe with invaluable insights and practical training in commentary.

The event featured theory sessions on technical aspects and practical exercises in a dedicated commentary booth, allowing participants to hone their skills with real footage. COSAFA Executive Director Sue Destombes highlighted the importance of supporting female commentators and analysts in broadcasting, emphasizing the need for more representation in the field.

The workshop also featured presentations from industry leaders, including SuperSport director Nono Cele, and included a tour of the world-class SuperSport studios. Participants had the opportunity to create demo recordings to showcase their newly acquired skills to broadcasters.

Destombes expressed confidence in the participants’ potential to pursue successful careers in broadcasting, underscoring COSAFA’s commitment to fostering development opportunities in all areas of the sport.

Malawi’s sole participant, Mwakhele Kaliande of Malawi Institute of Journalism Radio and a friend of WaGanyu Media Group, hailed the training as an eye opener.

“It’s been a great opportunity and life changing just learning from the people that have been in the game like Gleeson really was inspiring hoping to build on this as I continue on this journey”, she said.

Mwakhele was just one of eight women selected out of a pool of 300 applicants to attend the inaugural workshop.