Post by Betway SA20

𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐀𝟐𝟎 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐡𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐛𝐮𝐳𝐚’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 With June being Youth Month in South Africa, we are featuring a series of young men and women taking their first steps into the world of professional sports. Sobahle Mabuza’s love for sport knows no bounds. The University of the Western Cape (UWC) BSc Sports and Exercise Science student has been actively involved in almost every facet of the industry—from serving as a provincial hockey player and administrator to working as a media officer and student sports leader. Mabuza, 25, is a natural go-getter. That is why, when she learned about the Betway SA20 Season 4 Photography Internship, she simply could not let the opportunity slip by, even if it meant cutting her festive vacation short. “I literally had to cut my Christmas holidays short so that I could be back in time,” Mabuza tells Betway SA20. “I started at the end of December. New Year's Eve was basically my first day.” However, a minor oversight almost cost Mabuza the opportunity: she had forgotten to include her contact details on her initial application. “Apparently, I didn't add my number to my application,” Mabuza laughed. “Fortunately, one of my references stated that I had worked for University Sports South Africa (USSA). The recruiter reached out to a contact at USSA, and that’s how I finally received the email confirming my acceptance for the photography internship. “After that, I made sure they had every number, my Instagram, my TikTok—everything!” Much like her fellow photography intern Jacobus Nel, who was placed under the wing of seasoned photographer Carl Fourie, Mabuza had the experienced Ron Gaunt to lean on at the Wanderers. “I stuck with Ron, especially because the Wanderers is such a unique ground to shoot at,” she explained. “It’s massive and difficult to navigate, constantly moving up and down to the Media Centre. I learned a lot from Ron about how and why to pick specific vantage points, and crucially, how to avoid distracting the bowlers.” Mabuza’s debut game—JSK vs DSG—also coincided with the first Betway SA20 Super Over, providing her with an unforgettable experience. “It was the best start to an internship ever!” Mabuza exclaimed. “I couldn't believe I was on the pitch with some of the world's best cricketers during such a critical moment. It was history in the making. From then on, it really allowed me to settle and gave me the confidence to know I could thrive in the world of professional sports.” Her time with Betway SA20 clearly paid off; shortly afterward, she was appointed as the Media Manager for the professional women's rugby team, the Bulls Daisies.