VANDERBIJLPARK – This time, the multi-award winner added a ‘Sports Journalist of The Year for promoting women football’ to his trophy shelf.
The self-proud senior reporter said he was honored to have scooped the award and will continue to contribute immensely to his chosen path.
Popularly known as Zakes to his colleagues and close friends, the 52-year-old scribe was crowned during the Gauteng Women in Sports Awards held at North- West University, Vanderbijlpark branch on Saturday.
These are annual awards hosted in all Gauteng regions to honor men and women involved in women sports and promoting women in sports in their respective communities including journalists.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Zakes said his passion on improving and writing about sports in his community pays him off each year.
“Winning this award means a lot to me especially taking into consideration my love and passion for the development of sports. This is the moment I will cherish for the rest of my life,” he said.
Giving his background about his profession journey in the media industry, Zakes said as long as he can remember, he spent his life in the newsroom and on the soccer pitch.
“I spent the rest of my life in the newsroom, having started as a freelancer for the then Vaal Vision in 1996. Growing in my craft, I also freelanced for newspapers such as Sowetan, Sunday World, Sunday Sun, Kick OFF Soccer Magazine, Soccer Laduma and Soccer News,” he added.
Zakes is currently involved in the development of football, where he grooms young girls and boys in nurturing their talent in soccer.
Meanwhile, In 2013, Zakes was a finalist for Gauteng Sports Journalist Of The Year and I was the only community journalist competing against main stream media sports journalist from SABC and Media Times Newspaper.
He was also awarded a YB20 Award for his contribution in the development of football in this region.
