“I am trying to live my childhood dream” Vukosi Baloyi

Vukosi Baloyi

Vukosi Baloyi is the founder of Vukosi Baloyi Sport Academy which is set to be launched in December. He is the chairperson of Vukosi Baloyi Foundation and he is a junior lecturer at the Tshwane University Technology at the Department of Journalism.

Hope Motau a Television Assistant at the Department of Journalism and Baloyi’s colleague said, he is an inspiration to him and others because he has achieved so much at just at the age of 26.

Baloyi was born and bred at Mphambo Village, a small village located in the Limpopo Province (Vhembe District). He is the third born in his family and has three other siblings.

He started his schooling career at Mheho Primary School which is close to his home. He then proceeded to Sasa Combined School which is in Venda and he had to travel daily and he decided to finish off his high school at Shingwedzi High School where he obtained his Matric in 2008.

“I then made my way to TUT to study Journalism, as I was a football fanatic while growing up and I wanted to be a sport journalist,” said Baloyi.

After he finished his Diploma he enrolled for a Bachelor of Technology in Journalism at TUT. He passed it with flying colours and was awarded a scholarship to study a Masters of Technology with the same tertiary institution.

Baloyi said that he was over the moon when he was offered a part time position to be a tutor to Journalism students at TUT which eventually led him to being employed as a junior lecturer at the institution. He said “I have always been passionate about teaching as I come from a background of teachers, as my father is a pastor and my mother is a primary school teacher.”

11^th January 2015 Vukosi Baloyi Foundation was born. He said it was more of a birthday gift to him; the foundation is a community development and youth empowerment programme. They also do motivational talks and career exhibitions at the local schools in Mphambo village.

“I also launched a clothing line known as VBF, it consist of T-shirt, shirt, hoodies and the profit made from the sales goes to the VBF Bursary Fund,” said Baloyi. The VBF Bursary Fund will be awarded to a capable, needy individual to pursue his/her chosen career path. He said that he wanted to return the feeling that he felt when he received a scholarship because it felt so good.

In December 2016 he will be launching a sport academy in his village of Mphambo. This initiative was brought by his childhood dream of being a professional footballer but his parents said he must get proper education first. Baloyi said “I am trying to live my childhood dream; I hope one of the individuals who are part of the VB Sport Academy will go far and be a professional sport star.”

Bongisipho Zulu a journalism student said Baloyi is passionate about his job, they understand him and they pass his subject with flying colours.

In conclusion Motau said “Baloyi is a humble person, he always encourages me in so many things and I wish him well in his future endeavors.”