Introducing Oarabile Gaborone

Oarabile Gaborone, a competent sportscaster from Magogoe in Mahikeng, has a special method of presenting stories to listeners, employing the flair that only he can do, has progressed from the Most Improved presenter to a multi award winning presenter.

The sabc sports football analyst at Motsweding Fm, better known to his supporters as The General Raorao, began his career at Mahikeng Fm with a rapid rhythm and flow that saw him become the most adored sports anchor, despite the fact that all he wanted to be was a professional football player.

Some of his accomplishments include collecting the Station Manager Award  that he received from Mr Kgokong and the Presenters Choice Award at the MACRAs, as well as being nominated for the SA Radio Awards for the sports show he co-hosted at Mahikeng Fm.

The man who is all about the streets when it comes to football and where all the love for sports began is introduced to us in this conversation.

Oarabile, thank you for the chat. Please tell us about yourself and where you are from?

Hi Tlami, Oarabile Gaborone is a guy who was born in Magogoe. The first born of Edwin and Keitumetse Gaborone, a brother to two sisters who is very energetic. I started school at Sol Plaatjie Primary and matriculated at Boitseanape Technical High School in 2012. Got admitted at North West University, Mahikeng Campus where I studied Diploma in Sports Science and graduated in 2016. That’s Oarabile Gaborone.

When and where did your love for sports begin?

My love for sports began in primary school where I used to play with my friends during school break even before school starts in the morning and after school, while waiting for transport. Also, my uncles loved football, so my love for sports started there, especially with football where they used to buy me kick off magazines and Soccer Laduma newspaper and even during the Vodacom Challenges, I never missed the spectacle in Mahikeng at Mmabatho stadium and my uncle made sure that he takes me with. I was raised by a family that loves football.

Your broadcasting career started at Mahikeng Fm. Did you always know that you wanted to be on radio?

Not really. When you love something you will meet people who love the game as well and debate about the game that played last night or that’ll play on the weekend. So I never thought I’ll be a sportscaster or work at a radio station while I was still in Varsity and High School because my dream was to turn professional and play for any DSTV Premiership team or Manchester United abroad when I was a kid but Albert Suping played a pivotal role because I remember when we first met I was still in Varsity and used to talk as he was already at Mahikeng Fm and he used to test my knowledge regarding football and we would debate about certain things. He pushed me a lot just to check the amount of knowledge I have and he told me to come through to Mafikeng Fm where I was given an internship to learn from him. Albert took me under his wing to shadow him, provided guidance and how to prepare sports stories and what is required from a sports presenter, the technique and showed me how to be a sports presenter.

Please tell us about your experience at a community radio station and what impact it had in your career?

I learned so much at Mafikeng Fm. I remember when I got there Itumeleng Mokoto was the station manager and I got my big break to be on air when Cimply BM wasn’t available anymore where there was a gap in the drive time show. After Mokoto left, Karabo Kgokong became the station manager known now as the CEO. I learned a lot from him as I was given creative freedom to express myself and that led to my style of delivery, to be unique compared to your ordinary sports presenter. I also learned that when the information is correct and you use the right words for radio, you can deliver information in different ways.

You are now at a public broadcaster. What are you enjoying about it and how different is it from where you started?

It’s a bigger platform and some would say it’s added pressure because the whole country is listening but where I’m from I was taught that if you prepare, pressure is a good thing and that means you are going to do all you can to deliver good content for the listener. I’m happy to be there and learn from the greats such as Alpheus Koonyaditse, Mosela Mokgosi and fortunate to be working with Albert again. It would’ve been great also to work with the late Cebo Manyaapelo, may his soul continue to rest in peace. But I’m grateful that Koonyaditse is still there, Oatile Jacobs and Olaotse Kepadisa. So I get to work with people who love sports and learn from them. I’m enjoying myself and learning everyday because as a person you want to keep growing.

What is it about sports that fascinates you so much?

With sports there’s nowhere to hide. Your emotions have to be invested, whether in football, cricket or tennis and everyone wants to win. I love winning and narrating sports stories about who won, lost, who’s happy and who’s not. Whenever I’m watching a game, could be tennis, football or cricket and a world cup game I don’t want to be distracted because my emotions are invested so I go all out, hence my love for the game. It’s hard to explain such a feeling whenever I’m watching sports, it’s like something switches off and I’m there with them. But the love for sports is hard to explain to the readers but it’s there when you get a chance to exchange words with me or when you get a chance to listen to me when I’m on air. Sports is a beautiful thing but it’s a pity that some have to win and some have to lose but emotionally all of us we are invested in sports, those who love the game.

Your fans know you as General RaoRao. How did that name come about?

It started when I was still at Mahikeng Fm. If you listen to how present, I’m a bit quicker and it’s like a wave, a rhythm. There’s a lot of kasi flair in how I present and it’s no secret that I represent the streets and when I was a kid I loved players who played with flair, so that’s why when I present I use kasi flair so that you can identify me as someone who loves the streets, outhi yase kasi as others would describe it. I remember the first people to call me like that was Albert, Macdonald and dj Nash, then the voice of the station made a jingle for me and as they say…the rest is history.

I think it’s from the way I present, the rhythm and the flow, meaning ke tsosa RaoRao…when I get on air, it gets busy.

What has been some of your career highlights?

The MACRAs that are hosted by Mahikeng Fm. I remember the first award I received was in 2019 for the most improved presenter. In 2021/22 I scooped five awards in one night. The beauty of those awards is that the listeners got to vote so you can’t fault anyone for being chosen by the listeners because that means that people love what you do and they are able to take time from their busy schedule to listen to you. I remember from those five awards I also won station manager award that I was given to by Mr Kgokong and the presenters’ choice award where your colleagues choose you. I’ll always be grateful to everyone I’ve worked with at Mahikeng Fm, who helped me to grow and I wish them all the best.

Another one would be being nominated for the SA Radio Awards for Best Sports Show called Game Time that I did with Sello Mokonopi. Unfortunately, we didn’t win the award but at least we were on top three, so that was a great experience and got a taste of how it’s like to mingle with the big guns in the radio industry.

What’s your advice to those who want to get into broadcasting?

You have to find your own style, make sure that your information is correct and work hard on your delivery. If you can perfect that, you’ll be able to get to where you want to be because most people aspire to work in different platforms. You must be unique, being unique helps because no one can say you copied anyone, meaning that it’ll be you and your own delivery by making sure that you give what’s right to the listeners.

What can we expect from you in the near future?

Radio wise, to bring more creativity and flair and continue to educate.

Instagram: @da_boi_nextdoor

Twitter: @Oarabile_RaoRao