Rhandzu Mthombeni
| Rhandzu Mthombeni | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rirhandzu Mthombeni |
| Born |
7 April 1983 Malamulele Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa |
| Country |
 South Africa |
| module | |
Rirhandzu Rhandzu Mthombeni (b. 1983), also known as "RhandzuOptimus" or "Trend Master", is a South African radio sport presenter and motivational speaker currently working for SABC Sport at radio station Munghana Lonene FM (MLFM).
Early life and education
Mthombeni was born in Malamulele Township, Limpopo Province, South Africa.
Mthombeni attended Magangeni Primary School in Malamulele and Xilumani Primary school in Chavani Village. In 1995 at the age of 12, she began attending Hluvuka High School. It was in high school that Mthombeni dedicated herself to sports such as soccer, rugby and basketball.
Upon completing high school, Mthombeni enrolled at the University of Venda, where she studied for a Bachelor of Commerce in Tourism Management and participated in soccer and cricket.
While at the university, Mthombeni owned and managed a local soccer team know as Zurich F.C. (not to be confused with the Swiss club, FC Zürich). Under her guidance, in just two years, the team won two league championships and the Vice-Chancellor's Cup. Mthombeni then managed the varsity ladies soccer team, which she led to both the varsity winter and summer games for the first time in university history. She then asked to join the Varsity Soccer League as the Public Relations and Marketing Manager. She was also the president of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Society.
Radio career
While in varsity, Mthombeni joined the campus radio station as a volunteer in the breakfast show and weekend sport show. It was in the sport show where she found her true calling, inspiring her to work for a national radio station – Munghana Lonene fm (MLFM) – after completing her studies in 2005. She was the first female sport presenter for the station. In her time there, Mthombeni has reported on:
- Beijing Olympics (2008)
- London Olympics (2012)
- All Africa Games
- Algiers, Algeria (2007)
- Women's World Cup of Golf, Sun City, North West, South Africa (2007, 2008)
- FIFA World Cup, Germany (2006)
- FIFA World Cup, South Africa (2010)
- ICC Cricket World Cup, West Indies (2007)
- ICC Cricket World Cup, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka (2011)
- ICC World Twenty20, Sri Lanka (2012)
Mthombeni is currently working as the sport bulletin reader for the MLFM morning breakfast show, Phaphama, with award-winning producer Tebogo Jacko Magubane, Sydney Baloyi, and Conny Mashimbye. Mthombeni also works for the station's weekend sport show, where she participates in live broadcast and post-match analysis.
Mthombeni is considered to one of the best presenters in her field and has earned the hearts of her listeners through intelligent sport journalism and thorough knowledge in different sporting codes.
Personal
Mthombeni keeps her personal life very private and currently lives in Polokwane, but can occasionally be seen in Gauteng, Pretoria.
Nomination
Mthombeni has been nominated for the MLFM Best Sport Presenter and Best Sport Bulletin Reader awards in 2008 and 2012, respectively as well as being nominated for the Gsport Women in Sport award in 2010.