Women in Sport: From village fields to global screen, Nozibusiso Sibiya is changing the game

Nozibusiso Sibiya's journey into sports journalism wasn’t planned, it was destined. Inspired by her mother and grandmother’s love for football and ignited by the brilliance of Benni McCarthy in 1998, her passion took root early. A chance university project, redirected by a friend, steered her toward a career that would become her calling - telling the untold stories of women in sport.

From blogging with borrowed airtime to covering Bundesliga clashes on international TV, Nozibusiso has carved out her space in a male-dominated industry with grace, grit, and a mission. Her unwavering focus? To elevate women’s football, empower rural communities through sport, and show village girls that the world is theirs to conquer.

With her foundation supporting football and netball in underserved areas and a growing global presence, she is proof that you don’t need permission to pursue greatness, you just need purpose. Nozibusiso isn’t just reporting history; she’s making it.

GLAMOUR caught up with Nozibusiso, to learn more about her journey.

GLAMOUR: What first sparked your love for sports, and how did that evolve into a career in journalism and broadcasting?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: I fell in love with football when I was a child because my mother and my grandmother love the sport. My first memory of a brilliant football game was in 1998 when Bennie McCarthy scored four goals against Namibia. We spoke about it the whole day with my friends in Grade one .In third year in journalism at the Durban University of Technology we had to do a presentation on our favourite topics, I wanted to do it about the entertainment industry but someone had already taken that slot  - so my friend Sihle Mlambo encouraged me to do it about women in sport. I did, and he later arranged a video call from Carol Tshabalala, who went on to become my mentor.

GLAMOUR: Was there a defining moment when you realized, “This is what I’m meant to do”?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: Yes, a lot of moments but I remember when I was unemployed back home and my grandmother used to buy me airtime so I could blog about women in football across Africa. I wrote a story about Christy Ucheibe before she started playing for the senior national team in Nigeria. A player that went on to do really well for the Nigeria women’s national team and also has won about three titles with her club in Portugal. I always feel like I “discovered” such a diamond by telling her story.

GLAMOUR: Did you face any resistance breaking into a male-dominated space like sports media? How did you overcome it?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: Yes, a lot. Firstly, you need to understand that when I tell people I love football, they always ask me to name 500 players - because what do you mean you love football as a woman. Secondly, going to press conferences people actually don’t really believe that as woman we understand the sport. I also get a lot of comments from men saying they would want to sit with me one day and quiz me on my football knowledge. For example, people on Twitter called me stupid for asking Bayern Munich coach, Vincent Kompany about Bafana Bafana player Percy Tau at a Bayern presser. I saw him in Germany on Saturday and he asked me how Percy was. So these things really do not affect me anymore because my mother knows football more than any man I know, and my therapist actually really helps me just focus on myself.

GLAMOUR: You’ve covered events around the world , what’s been your most unforgettable assignment so far?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: All of them,  but definitely doing my first TV pitch side reporting this week at the Bayern Munich vs Dortmund game. It was everything I have been dreaming about, standing in front of the camera, in Europe, talking confidently about a sport that I love, that was life changing.

GLAMOUR: How do you mentally and physically prepare to be on the road so often?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: I always spend quality time with my three-year-old daughter before travelling so it’s a bit easier for her when I go. I then make sure that I have some kind of budget to spend to explore the city or country that I’m visiting. The packing is always last minute, something that I’m trying to change. I always reach out to brands who are interested in dressing me or to partner in any way.

GLAMOUR: What do you think is currently missing in how local schools approach sports development?

Nozibusiso Growing up, I took part in athletics and cricket at my village primary school, we had many sports programs back then. But now, the government isn’t exactly funding schools these programs and local companies don’t really sponsor village or township schools. Sports made me the person that I am today, even though I wasn’t really good at it. It taught me a lot about time management, team work and also built self confidence. I wish more private companies could invest in underprivileged schools so children can play more sports.

GLAMOUR: Tell us about your foundation , what inspired you to focus on football and netball in rural areas?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: Well, I grew up in a village so it’s very important for me to give back and show parents how the power of sports development can change lives. Seeing children play, get equipment that they never thought they would own like branded soccer boots warms my heart. I believe that being involved in any type of sport help children deal with mental health issues, assists them in making life long friendships, gives them a safe space and also makes them feel important and seen.

GLAMOUR: What challenges have you faced working in underserved communities, and how have you overcome them?

A major challenge of working in a village is that parents often don't want their daughters involved in sports because they rely on them for household chores. But seeing their girls grow through sport helps change that thinking. Also witnessing how I have been able to change my life as a village girl makes it easy for me to convince them to let their children play.

GLAMOUR: What impact story has stuck with you the most so far?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: My best friend Nozipho Radebe is a director at Spilltech, one of the most growing environmental companies in SA. She’s a village girl like myself who spent her early 20s working hard to build a life for herself and climb up the corporate ladder. Seeing her holding such a high position and also owning five properties makes me believe that I can also achieve more. She will be angry at me for saying this by the way.

GLAMOUR: Who were your role models , in sports or journalism , growing up?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: Carol Tshabalala because of her sports knowledge as well as her confidence in front of the camera. Robert Marawa who then went on to become my mentor. Julia Stuart when I started in the industry because of how she helped me and also her career has been inspiring to watch, seeing someone who grew up in the Cape Flats, started working for SuperSport at 30 then going on to work for one of three biggest broadcasters in the world, Sky Sports, is inspiring. Bennie McCarthy, from representing Bafana from the age of 17 to coaching at Manchester United? It really shows that the sky is the limit.

GLAMOUR: What legacy do you hope to leave behind in the world of sports and storytelling?

Nozibusiso Sibiya: I want village girls to know that they can dream as big and as crazy as they want. I want to be the kind of women who makes young girls believe in themselves and know they can achieve anything that they put their mind to. Lastly, I want to be one of the journalists to grow  coverage of women’s football in Africa and across the world and para sports.