Univen FM boasts with a female sports presenter
ELSIE Malada (32) from Gondeni outside Thohoyandou in Vhembe is fast gaining popularity among her listeners.
Maseo Nethanani
LIMPOPO – ELSIE Malada (32) from Gondeni outside Thohoyandou in Vhembe is fast gaining popularity among her listeners.
Malada is a sports presenter and commentator at the University of Venda’s (Univen) community radio station known as Univen FM and can be heard on Saturdays from 17:00 to 18:00. She is studying public relations management through the University of South Africa. Her passion for radio started at an early age when she used to imitate Sydney Mashige, a sports commentator from Phalaphala FM.
“I started presenting on radio professionally in 2013 after being a sports analyst for a year. I love sport and I always had a passion for being a radio presenter. I realised that there were very few female sports presenters and took the chance,” Malada explains.
She says she always enjoyed radio while growing up and now she is living her dream of being a radio presenter. “When the opportunity came in 2012 to be a sports analyst, I grabbed it with both hands and since that day I have never looked back,” she says.
Her advice to those who want to follow in her footsteps is for them to first equip themselves with an education so that they have something to fall back on.
She says she wants to encourage young women who wish to enter the industry to work hard towards achieving their goals.
“Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I am still trying to put my name up there myself, but I believe it will happen some day.”
