Energetic, young and not afraid to take on the world, 5FM’s Thabooty Drive team will look to replicate their radio and television expertise when they take to the field before the start of the much anticipated Varsity Athletics competition in Pretoria later today. Led by Thando Thabethe and Msizi James, fireworks are literally expected.
Put together their presenting, sport, music and entertainment skills, and the Thabooty Drive team is a force to reckon with. Keeping listeners across South Africa locked to their radio slot between 15h00 and 18h00 every week day, the team has carved out a name for themselves as one of the most sought after shows in the country. But what will happen when the team, Sibs Matiyela and Duran Collet included, take to the athletics track, well, field actually? Will they still be a force? Can they replicate the energy they have in studio on the field? Well, we will find out at 2pm today when they make an appearance at a 5FM activation at the Tuks Stadium before the high-octane athletics competition starts.
Paired with experienced University of Pretoria athletes, the four presenters will have a go at triple and long jump, high jump, shot put and javelin throw. Thando Tabethe, a former University of Johannesburg student, will be paired up with Jovan van Vuuren, a man who boasts a personal best of 7.80m in the long jump. Van Vuuren is very close to jumping over the sought after 8m barrier, and if he can assist Tabethe with top class pointers on technique, run up and landing, she might surprise us with a jump of over 4m. Of course it’s not all about distances, but if the leader of the team leaps to something big, the rest will follow. It’s a case of leading by example, so bring it on Thando.
The charismatic Msizi James who joined 5fm last year, meanwhile, will be taken through the phases in the high jump by Wessel Oosthuizen. The former Durban based presenter will need an extra bounce in his step, and jumps, if he looks to impress the crowd at Tuks. But we are talking about Msizi James here, so whether he gets over 1.3m or 2m, he will put up a show nonetheless!
As for Matiyela, it will be interesting to see how things unfold when she pairs up Johathan Bartie. The vibrant newsreader may not have the typical body make up of shot put athletes, but who knows, she might have something big up her sleeve this afternoon. And if Sibs’ shot put attempts are anything to go by, surely than Duran Collet and his teammate, Shannon Verster, are to bring more drama when they attempt the very technical discipline, javelin throw. Known as the ‘the resident sports ginger and sport fanatic on 5FM’, surely he would have done his homework on Javelin Throw. But he won’t be alone, his partner in crime will be Verster, an upcoming star athlete looking to make her mark on the track and field scene. Who knows, today might be the day it happens…
By Reginald Hufkie
