The Sunday News
Sunday Life Correspondent, Rumbidzai Mbewe
STAR FM’s Yvonne Mangunda describes herself as a wife, a mother to two and an avid sports person who enjoys playing netball, softball, tennis and cricket.
In simpler terms she is chatty, blunt and a lover of all things sport. Mangunda, popularly known as the first lady of sport on Star FM, ventured into the showbiz industry in the early 2000, where she played the role of Sibo in soapie Studio 263.
Mangunda told Sunday Life in an interview that she has always been in love with sports, as she played various sports at school and even went on to play cricket professionally.
“My love for sports especially football was shaped by my late mom, who was an avid Caps United supporter. She would take me to watch matches from an early age and now I am also doing that to my two year-old girl, grooming her to appreciate sport,” she said.
The witty Mangunda said her main goal was to conquer Africa and the world, stating that she wanted to build her own brand in sport.
“I look at women like Minnie Dhlamini and Carol Tshabalala, where and what they have done. I want to do more than that. I want to be covering all the big sporting events in the world. I have completed my Level One coaching course in football. I want to be a Caf licence holder not to coach one day but to continuously develop my knowledge of the game,” said Mangunda.
The first lady of sports also noted that being a radio presenter was her passion.
“Sometimes you do not know your calling until God has led you there. I wake up every day, grateful for a job I totally love and feel I am capable of executing. It’s so nice to be a ground breaker. I have amazing colleagues in my department, I learn so much from my mentors Steve Vickers, Howard Musonza, Spencer Banda. Ephraim Tagu and Godfrey Koti are always there to hold my hand and Steve is like a firm but loving father who guides you patiently through the terrain,” she said.
Before joining the Star FM team, Mangunda featured in Studio 263 as Sibo, Jabu’s wife.
She said Studio 263 brought amazing opportunities for her even though there were a lot of challenges and the money was not enough.
“I started off in theatre and my director, the late Walter Muparutsa who believed so much in me recommended that I try out for internship at Studio 263. The production manager said they were auditioning for Jabu’s wife and I got the place. My highlight at 263 was being nominated for the best actress award at the Namas even though I didn’t win, it was a big deal for me to be nominated,” she said.
In the year 2000, she represented Zimbabwe in the first authentic African reality show, Imagine Afrika, which set up pan-African challenge for continent’s young achievers and promoted the vision of an HIV-free generation. She said being part of this programme was an ego booster for her as she made it out of the
10 000 entrants in 40 countries.
“Through this programme I got to travel a lot, living in luxury before shooting the show but during the show shooting it was hard. My team was based in Mozambique, living in a rented room in the ghetto because we had to experience the real Africa,” she said.
She said Imagine Afrika gave her so many African experiences and the tasks they were given sometimes were very difficult. Being patriotic, patient and being proud of who she is, are some of the things she learnt.
“The tasks were draining, the environment hard but the downs are outweighed by the ups. I learnt endurance, perseverance, overcoming the most difficult conditions and cohabiting with three people from different cultures and beliefs,” said Mangunda.
The proud mother of two said chances of her coming back to TV were very slim, as she preferred to return to cricket.
“I have more chances of going back to cricket than acting. If I did go back, it would be theatre. I loved being on stage, I loved theatre, it’s awesome,” she said.
