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12 February 2018 Photo Supplied
Get your blend of rock and legal with the Kovsie FM Breakfast Show
Richard and Fifi from the Kovsie FM Breakfast Show

Richard Chemaly completed a BCom degree at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 2010 before he enrolled for an LLB, and is currently doing an LLM in legal philosophy. He was also a familiar face on campus as SRC President. After jetting around the world, Richard is back in Bloemfontein. Since becoming a DJ for the Breakfast Show at Kovsie FM, he is now responsible for starting the day for listeners on a good note.

Blending law and entertainment fell into my lap. After locking up my Hillbrow apartment, I travelled for a year, accidentally fell in love and moved back to Bloemfontein. Nobody wanted to hire me. Could have been my unconventional Facebook presence, or appearing on ANN7… I don’t know. I was already in the entertainment field because one of my business partners and I started a beer distribution company, which got us a lot of free beer. We then realised that if we started an entertainment blog, which we did, we’d get free access to cool parties, which we did. It just made sense to venture into entertainment law, which suited my personality.

Radio was never my thing, and I have always regretted that. Music was always my thing, though, so the transition was easy. My co-host, Fifi, is my polar opposite. As a young black female who likes old R&B, trap and alternative pop, she brings everything I can’t as an old, hairy Lebanese punk-rocking dude. The dynamic is incredible.

I’m a big lover of mornings and I try to get in an early morning jog and hunting for geocaches before I aim to make even the grumpiest morning listener smile. With an exceptional knowledge of current affairs, it is easy to get across to our diverse listenership. Quick wit and my co-presenter also help! The Breakfast Show sets the tone for the day, and we get good feedback.

I would still like to take over the Musicon and become a pilot. 

News Archive

NBC tells Wayde’s story
2015-11-02

   

The film crew from NBC Olympics
filming Wayde van Niekerk (centre, in grey clothes)
during a practice session at Pellies Park on the
Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS.
On the left is Ans Botha, Van Niekerk’s coach.
Photo: Charl Devenish

The Kovsie star Wayde van Niekerk stands an excellent chance of shining at the 2016 Olympics and has a remarkable story behind his success.

This is why NBC Olympics, a division of the American broadcasting network NBC, selected the athlete from the University of the Free State (UFS) to do a special insert for the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

A film crew from NBC visited the City of Roses and the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October 2015 to film the insert. The feature will be screened on NBC Olympics’ platforms during and leading up to the Olympics next year.

One of four stars


Van Niekerk was one of four athletes used by the crew to film inserts on. The others were the South African swimmer Chad le Clos, the Kenyan 800 m athlete David Rudisha, and Ethiopian middle- and long-distance athlete Genzebe Dibaba.

The crew interviewed Van Niekerk and his coach Ans Botha, and also paid a visit to Pellies Park during one of his training sessions.

According to Tom Davidson, feature producer at NBC Olympics, the piece about Van Niekerk will be about three minutes long.

“We do a pretty good job of picking good stories, but it is up to the athletes to get there,” Davidson said.

“We think Wayde has a good shot at being in the finals of the 400 m at the Olympics.”

Van Niekerk won a gold medal in a time of 43.48 s at the World Championships in Beijing during August 2015 and set a new South African record for a third time and a new African record for a second time this year in the process.

Beijing success propels Wayde onto NBC radar


“Wayde’s performance in Beijing certainly propelled him onto our radar,” said Davidson.

 “He beat former World and Olympic champions like Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt.”

He feels that Van Niekerk is also very young and still at university.

And Botha makes his story even more interesting.

“It is not every day that you see a 74-year old great-grandmother coaching a world champion.”



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