COLUMN: The Corner Flag – It’s about trusting the process

I had the privilege of talking to Benoni Northerns Athletic Club (BNAC)’s juniors coach Michael van Aswegen on Saturday.

I was quizzing him about his group’s preparation for the Central Gauteng Athletics cross-country championships on August 19.

Responding to one of the questions, Van Aswegen said: “It’s not always about first, second and third. It’s also about the process.”

Van Aswegen will lead his athletes to the provincials knowing that those who win or qualify for the Athletics South Africa Cross-Country Championships worked hard for years, and those that don’t make it, their time will come.

It’s about the process.

This reminded me of my own journey in this industry.

When I started with the Benoni City Times last year, I hadn’t set foot inside a newsroom since 2013. Although I was still involved in sports writing between 2014 and 2019, it was part-time.

I got in our newsroom and hid behind my bucket hat, with no plan how I would connect with the community. It took time and as days passed and you welcomed me into your homes and invited me to your matches and marathons, it got easier.

We soon got the ball rolling and covered a variety of events. Little did I know a year later, I would be among the nominees for the sports journalist of year award in the 2022 Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) awards.

This happened because the likes of Kate van Jaarsveld, Kerry Webb at Benoni Northerns, Mike Forner from SA JKA Benoni Dojo and all the countless people that have given me scoops, opened their hearts and gave me an opportunity to improve as a journalist.

Although the award went to a more deserving candidate, it was a great privilege being in the top 10 of the best sports writers in community journalism in the country.

During the gala awards evening in Cape Town, I was surrounded by greatness – men and women with decades of experience in our industry, journalists who have been their communities’ watchdogs for years.

I’m honoured – but it’s about the process. Even Wayne van der Walt from the Highvelder, who went home with several awards, said to me afterwards that this was a culmination of years of hard work.

As Van der Walt said, it’s about hard work and patience.

Van Jaarsveld didn’t become a successful runner overnight and Shane McGregor didn’t suddenly become a Comrades Marathon silver medalist.

Sensei John Barnett didn’t become a ninth dan and one of the most decorated karate instructors in the country in a year, and young golf sensation Keown Botha from Rynfield had to work on his putt for years.

All these champions did the hard yards and dedicated themselves to their craft.

They, and many other Benonians, inspire me, but the greatest inspiration are the women in our newsroom who have been my shining light since day one.

I look back with pride for the work we’ve done in the past year-and-a-half. For now, we go back to the drawing board and try again.

I’m thankful to people like Mike Lee at Old Bens, Beppie Summersgill, Mpongo Cycling Club in Daveyton and many others.

Without your stories, this wouldn’t have happened.

My time will come. I would like to extend a special thanks to the organisers, the FCJ and their main sponsor, AVBOB, for this incredible and unforgettable experience. It was a collection of firsts for me, and for this I am very grateful.

Editor’s note: Caxton Local Media and, of course, Lebo’s work family, the Benoni City Times newsroom, are immensely proud of his nomination in the prestigious FCJ awards. Lebo entrenched himself in the community, particularly on the sidelines of sporting events, from day one (which is every editor’s dream) and his passion and commitment have been noticed far and wide, within Caxton and within our community. We take our (bucket) hat off to you, Lebo! Yes, your time will definitely come. Just keep doing what you do best. Follow your passion and the rest will take care of itself. Well done!

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