The SABC team in the Limpopo had another celebration last week in honour of PhalaPhala FM’s sport presenter Thilivhali “Big T” Muavha. Thilivhali once again outclassed the national SABC radio stations and won the top award during the annual SABC Boxing Presenter of the Year awards. The announcement was made at Carnival City last Friday.

This announcement comes a week after “Big T” won another award in recognition of his skills as a sport presenter in the Mellow Wood 5 Celebrity Challenge Sport Presenter of the Year award at a glittering ceremony that was held in Port Elizabeth.

Munghana Lonene FM´s executive producer of sports, Joas Mashimbye, received a third prize in this competition, with DJ Shabba Mavuso of Legwalagwala FM ending second.

Appreciating the good work done by Muavha, PhalaPhala FM station manager Mr Freddy Sadiki said that they were very proud of Big T as he continues to carry the torch for PhalaPhala FM and goes on to enrich the station’s award cabinet. “This is testimony that PhalaPhala FM is ready to be counted among the best. It does not get better than this,” he said.

In an exclusive interview on Monday, Muavha said he was very excited to have consecutively won the awards which are coming at a very important time in PhalaPhala FM’s events calendar, just at the same time when the station is celebrating its 44th anniversary this month.

According to Muavha, both awards came as a surprise, more so because he was pitted against guys who understood the game.

It was the second time that Big T Muavha was competing in the Mellow Wood 5 Celebrity Coach Challenge Awards which is running for the sixth year now. His first attempt was unsuccessful, due to the fact that the shortlisted finalists had to record two tapes of their live broadcasts and send them to Mellow Wood. Ironically, Limpopo SABC presenters Thilivhali Muavha and Joas Mashimbye’s tapes got lost before they reached their destination. By the time they were traced, they had missed the deadlines.

Muavha’s break on radio started nearly ten years ago with Univen Radio. This professional teacher, who taught for eight years before giving up the chalk, was driven by his penchant for the microphone.

He was given a chance on a trial basis at Univen Radio in 1999 and that´s where it all started. According to Muavha, he relished the exposure, connections and networking that his new-found passion afforded.

In 2006, the PhalaPhala FM management discovered that this young and energetic man was a force to reckon with and did not waste time to approach him and invite him to their auditions. “I landed on the shores of PhalaPhala FM, joining the formidable team of Chiraiza Nelufule, led by one of the station’s veterans Mr Hyson Musandiwa,” recalled Muavha.

On behalf of all managers and staff of the Limpopo region, the SABC Limpopo´s Regional General Manager, Mr Victor Ravhuanzwo, congratulated Thilivhali Muavha and Joas Mashimby, together with their production teams, for winning both the awards. “I hope that there are many more good things still to come,” said Ravhuanzwo.