Gqimm Shelele

As a young, soccer-mad boy living in rural KwaZulu-Natal, Robert Marawa listened to the commentary of local football derbies on a small, crackling FM radio. As a teenager, he spent hours practising his presenting skills on his familys home video recorder, reading from newspaper clips his mother had carefully kept for him while he was at boarding school in Hilton. Marawas dream was to be a sportscaster who would be beamed into the homes of South Africas footballing fans. Robert Marawas career has exceeded his wildest imagination. Madluphuthu has become arguably South Africas most popular and most recognisable sports broadcaster. With his quick turn of phrase, his baritone voice and his direct, no-nonsense approach, he has earned a loyal following on radio and television over the past two decades.