Behind every great team is a loyal supporter base… and somebody getting them going.
A regular visit to some sports matches allows one to witness the routine of a match MC: mention a player’s name here and there, an occasional word to the sponsors, and interview a few spectators. Rarely does a match MC morph into a critical unit of the home crowd, spurring them from the clutches of defeat and stalemates onto impressive victories.
Making a return to Varsity Football after a four-year hiatus, UFS have countered the odds to sit joint-top of the log going into their final round-robin encounter.
Nicknamed the Ruba-nation (also Raba-nation) by match MC Tshepo Xaba, UFS have picked up 10 out of a possible 12 points in their four home games. Xaba, who hails from Qwa-Qwa in the Eastern Free State, feels that it important to apply emphasis when the home team is leading.
“I say Ruba-nation when we’re winning [and] we rub it in,” the 22-year-old UFS LLB student tells varsitysportssa.com.
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Decked in traditional Sesotho garb, Xaba is easy to spot on the side of the field or in the stands with the fans.
“During our briefing, we were told to be creative, so I decided to wear Sesotho clothing to represent my culture and encourage others to do the same,” Xaba reveals.
Had it not been for a career-ending injury, Xaba would probably still be playing football.
“I got involved in radio and commentary when I was in high school. I would make jokes about the players and it was all for fun,” Xaba says.
“I then took part in a talent show [2018 Kovsie’s Rising Star at UFS] where I displayed my commentating skills because everyone else was singing, dancing, and doing poetry,” Xaba adds.
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Xaba then joined Varsity Football, but he was initially intimidated by everyone else speaking English: “I came with my Sesotho and they were [luckily] happy with it.”
Unsurprisingly, considering how well he has adjusted to his new role in football, Xaba visualises a potential future in commentary.
“I see this as a talent and I would like to take it far and have it as a career. I’m even willing to specialise in media law.”
Much like his idols Thabo Kofa from Lesedi FM and Baba Mthethwa from SuperSport, Xaba has followed the trend of giving players nicknames to, as he says “give players oomph and recognise the player’s own style and dynamic”.
Among the few nicknames that Xaba has introduced, Thapelo ‘Madrid’ Madrati and Angelo ‘Agrizzi’ Arendse have caught on with the home crowd.
UFS will be without Xaba’s drive as they travel to Pretoria to face UP-Tuks in search of a home semi-final.
Kick-off is at 16:00 on SuperSport 4 and tickets are available on the Varsity Sports App (available for iOS and Android users) and here: https://varsitysportsa.plankton.mobi/
By Sam Styrax
