Celebrating the rise of women in Sport who have flown and continue to fly the South African flag high both on domestic and international stages! Featured here is ‘The first lady of sport’ Carol Tshabalala
She is celebrated throughout the continent as well as the globe. She’s been a sportscaster for 22 years, a world-class master of ceremonies and holds great influence as the first lady of sport in South Africa! She is Carol Tshabalala.
Born in Pimville, Soweto, Carol’s career in sports has been nothing short of remarkable. After graduating from Krugersdorp High School in 2000, she kicked off her broadcasting career at Kaya FM as a sports news journalist and then joined Radio 2000. Later, she started as a sports broadcaster for the SABC where she stayed for 10 years before joining SuperSports International where her work began to shine brightest.
From her early days at SABC Sports to joining SuperSport International and making waves on the UK’s Premier League Productions, she has consistently proven herself as a standout talent in the industry.
Carol has been at the centre of some of the most exciting sports events in the world, namely the Olympics, Paralympics, Commonwealth Games in Australia and the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to mention a few.
In 2011, she made history when she became the first African to host the Fifa Ballon d’Or ceremony in Zurich – a feat that remains unmatched in the continent to this day. Here, she rubbed shoulders with some of the biggest names in world football, including CNN’s renowned sports anchor, Pedro Pinto whom she shared the stage with as co-host of the event – creating unmatched energy and charm that definitely captured the ceremony.
And lastly Carol Tshabalala.
— Ziyama (@ZiyamaMay_) August 9, 2020
We've seen the amazing sports anchor on our T.V. screens for 2 decades,In 2016 she went global when she joined Barclays Premier League as a live studio anchor.
Carol Tshabalala is first and only African to host the FIFA Ballon d'Or awards. pic.twitter.com/kcFoumc5fb
Audiences worldwide were so impressed and moved by Carol’s performance, so much so that she was invited back in 2012, but this time as a special guest of honour. This was a big recognition for her hard work and talent in sports broadcasting.
Amongst other things, her passion and dedication to media made her the host for the 2003 and 2008 editions of ‘Miss South Africa and Miss South Africa Teen’ pageants.
Some of her accolades include:
- 1 of the Top 10 Women in Radio in SA – MTN Yello Rose award, 2011
- Best Sports Presenter – Television at the SAFA (South African Football Association) Awards – 2010
- Best Radio Journalist – SAB Sports Journalists awards 2009
- Best Television Presenter – for the 2003/2004 PSL soccer season
- Best television newcomer – SAB Sports Journalist of the Year awards 2001.
In a recent interview with the Purple Team, Carol shared what has been her most savoured sports moment in South Africa his year:
“What a year in sport this is turning out to be for the fairer sex, so difficult to choose a notable highlight from so many but what has stood out for me is that the gulf in class between the sexes is closing, we are seeing quality performances from our female athletes that rival and sometimes eclipse their male counterparts. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is a classic example where Banyana Banyana arrived as African champions and didn’t disappoint.”
The team that captured everyone's hearts. 🫶🇿🇦@Banyana_Banyana | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 6, 2023
Carol’s impact in the sports industry has been immense, and she consistently contributes to various communities, earning her the esteemed title of Mzansi’s first lady of sports.
When asked about how her passion for sports has influenced other aspects of her life, ‘Simply Carol’ said, “I love the fact that sport plays such a big role in all aspects of our lives. It is why avid followers are so vociferous in their support. Through the efforts of our sports icons, we are inspired by their hard work, focus and triumphs and are able to apply these same principles in our daily lives.”
In January 2022, the First Lady of Sports joined Hollywoodbets as an ambassador!
Speaking after the announcement, Carol had this to say: “It is hard to describe in words how excited I am to begin this beautiful journey with Hollywoodbets. Over the years, I have seen how the company has grown to be the leading betting operator in the country and has now become a rising force in the sports betting field on a global scale.
Hollywoodbets has its heart in making a positive difference in their communities through various initiatives and the Hollywood Foundation.
As someone who is passionate about women empowerment, becoming a brand ambassador for Hollywoodbets was the next step in our growing relationship as previous successful projects we collaborated on together, like the #EmpoweringHER Women’s Month campaign and the Brentford FC launch, have shown how powerful this partnership can and will be.”
Carol continues to rise to global prominence while breaking stereotypes and navigating a prominently male-dominated space that is sports!
Award-winning broadcaster, Carol Tshabalala, fondly known as South Africa’s First Lady of Sport, has partnered with Hollywoodbets as our latest Brand Ambassador.https://t.co/XBAaeyXvEP
— Hollywoodbets (@Hollywoodbets) February 10, 2022
