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Chikenge’s inspiring sports journalism journey

What started as a love for football through blogging has turned into a motivational story for one of Zambia’s most celebrated sports journalists.

Born and bred in Zambezi District of the North-Western Province, the 2023/24 FAZ Sports Journalist of the Year, Kelvin Kaumba Chikenge, narrates how his childhood dreams have come to fruition.“I’ve always been a journalist throughout my life,” he says.

From being a press club member in school to creating his personal blog, The African Football Greats, which focused on profiling African football legends as the name suggests Chikenge’s passion has been evident from the beginning.

He even made appearances on kids’ TV shows at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC), which he credits to the efforts of his elder brother. However, there was a time he almost lost access to social media, as his mother believed it was taking up too much of his time.

Chikenge’s journey is one driven by passion and early dedication, with his consistent efforts on social media pages helping to lay the foundation for his career.

He holds a Diploma in Journalism from the Zambia Institute of Mass Communication (ZAMCOM) and a qualification in Public Relations from Mulungushi University, with even more achievements surely to come.

In terms of professional experience, Chikenge interned at the Zambia Daily Mail newsroom in 2019 before other doors began to open.As the saying goes, “Whenever an opportunity arises, take it with your level best.”

His insightful blogs on Facebook, through his page, caught the attention of a local TV station.

Spring TV invited him for an interview, and due to his insightful analysis and academic background, he was offered a job and became the station’s only sports reporter between 2020 and 2021 before eventually moving on.Chikenge remained committed to blogging.

He later rebranded and launched a Facebook page under his own name, Kaumba Chikenge – Journalist, which now boasts a growing audience of over 116,000 followers and serves as a hub for exclusive sports stories.

Two months after leaving Spring TV, BolaNews approached him with an opportunity, something he remains grateful for.“I liked the project. Everything aligned with what I believed in, so we talked, and here I am,” Chikenge explains.

He has been reporting for the online sports news publication/magazine since its establishment in 2022, and it’s his work there that earned him the 2023/24 Sports Journalist of the Year award.

Despite his rise to prominence, Chikenge says he learned a lot from already established sports journalists and industry experts before making a name for himself.

He emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with sources and experts.

“The sources begin to trust you because you got their contacts from people they already trust,” he says.

Although he has covered a variety of sports disciplines, he notes that football remains the number one sport in Zambia.

Explaining why he chose to specialize in football reporting, he says, “Sports reporting is too broad. No matter how good you are, it can be overwhelming.”

He encourages aspiring sports reporters to explore different sporting disciplines and then specialize in one where they can excel.Today, Chikenge’s work has attracted attention across the continent.

Since 2023, he has served as a Zambian sports correspondent for The Guardian (UK) and also contributes to some French publications through his knowledge and practical experience in football reporting.

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