A new Xhosa rugby magazine show launched in Port Elizabeth this week aims to showcase development rugby while profiling some of the sport’s stars of yesteryear.
The show is also intended telling viewers the history of black rugby by profiling former players and also teaches the people the law of the sport.
Phaka – which is a Xhosa rugby term that means “pass the ball” – will be aired for the first time on Tuesday next week on channel SS1 from 6-7pm.
The show repeats will be on channel SS4 and Select daily.
Former Cheetahs and Border Bulldogs player Kaunda Ntunja said the show would contribute massively to the development of rugby.
Another former star, and popular television commentator Makhaya Jack, will co-host the show.
Ntunja said: “Another problem that sponsors have is lack of recognition of marketing from the clubs and players.
“This show will give that platform to those clubs and schools.
“It is also our mandate to market those who put in money into black sport.”
Though the show targets Xhosa-speaking people, Ntunja said there would be a significant split between Xhosa and English.
He said all the graphics in the show would be in English and there would be subtitles for interviews done in Xhosa.
“We are not only talking to Xhosa-speaking people, which is another very important reason why Motshidisi is part of the show – to have that little break from the deep Xhosa, so that we can also engage in English as well,” he said.
“Even though we are MaXhosa, and we are very proud of our heritage.
“We are also aware that we are in a market where a large group of people need to understand our message properly.”
Ntunja said issues of transformation would also be discussed on the show.
“The first segment we will have a talking point where we will discuss issues that journalists write about, so that we as former players can engage accurately about the topic.”
He said he hoped the show would be aired for more than 20 years as “there are many stories of black people that needed to be told”.
“This is the first year at the end of the day television is a business.
“The producers will check the numbers at the end of the year.
“Hopefully they will be impressed with the numbers that we have so that we can continue with the show,” he said.
Segments of the show have already been filmed in the Eastern Cape featuring EP Kings U19 coach Mzwandile Stick and former Spring Rose player Lucky Mange.
Xhosa TV show set to break sport’s race mould
The show is also intended telling viewers the history of black rugby by profiling former players and also teaches the people the law of the sport.
Phaka – which is a Xhosa rugby term that means “pass the ball” – will be aired for the first time on Tuesday next week on channel SS1 from 6-7pm.
The show repeats will be on channel SS4 and Select daily.
Former Cheetahs and Border Bulldogs player Kaunda Ntunja said the show would contribute massively to the development of rugby.
Another former star, and popular television commentator Makhaya Jack, will co-host the show.
Ntunja said: “Another problem that sponsors have is lack of recognition of marketing from the clubs and players.
“This show will give that platform to those clubs and schools.
“It is also our mandate to market those who put in money into black sport.”
Though the show targets Xhosa-speaking people, Ntunja said there would be a significant split between Xhosa and English.
He said all the graphics in the show would be in English and there would be subtitles for interviews done in Xhosa.
“We are not only talking to Xhosa-speaking people, which is another very important reason why Motshidisi is part of the show – to have that little break from the deep Xhosa, so that we can also engage in English as well,” he said.
“Even though we are MaXhosa, and we are very proud of our heritage.
“We are also aware that we are in a market where a large group of people need to understand our message properly.”
Ntunja said issues of transformation would also be discussed on the show.
“The first segment we will have a talking point where we will discuss issues that journalists write about, so that we as former players can engage accurately about the topic.”
He said he hoped the show would be aired for more than 20 years as “there are many stories of black people that needed to be told”.
“This is the first year at the end of the day television is a business.
“The producers will check the numbers at the end of the year.
“Hopefully they will be impressed with the numbers that we have so that we can continue with the show,” he said.
Segments of the show have already been filmed in the Eastern Cape featuring EP Kings U19 coach Mzwandile Stick and former Spring Rose player Lucky Mange.
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