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Every profession has a driving force that encourages individuals to participate.

Joshua M. Horlortu, a sports journalist at Nhyira FM, reveals the motivation behind his radio career.

He revealed that a single phone call to Kapital Radio, made precisely 20 years ago today, was the catalyst for his entry into the media space.

Recalling the incident, he mentioned being left at home because of his age, after a chosen group of senior students, including his brother Elorm EL and father, from his alma mater were scheduled to represent the school on Kapital Radio 97.1FM’s special Saturday morning broadcast.

See his lengthy post;

I FIRST SPOKE ON RADIO EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO ON THIS DAY📻😊

Follow me closely. Let me tell you the story.

The first time I spoke on radio was on 17th June 2006, exactly 20 years ago. That day, at 4pm, the Black Stars of Ghana were heading into a must-win second group game against Czech Republic at their maiden FIFA World Cup appearance in Germany.

A few hours earlier, around 9am, a select group of senior students from my alma mater were representing the school on a special Saturday morning programme on Kapital Radio 97.1FM. Among them were my elder brother, Elorm EL and my dad.

I was quite young at the time, so I was asked to stay home and follow proceedings from a small radio set. Even then, it felt like a proud moment. Radio always felt magical to me, and I was disappointed that I wasn’t in the studio to witness the whole spectacle firsthand.

At some point during the programme, listeners were invited to call in and predict the scoreline for the match later that day.

I immediately thought to myself, THIS IS MY MOMENT! 🫰🏾🔥

I put tremendous pressure on my mum to call the station and let me speak. After all, I wanted them to hear the small boy who had been left at home because he was considered too young to participate.

My mum was reluctant at first, but she probably realized I would never forgive her if she didn’t at least try. After a few attempts, we got through and suddenly, my voice was LIVE on radio.

I quickly moved away from my radio set, confidently mentioned my name, and predicted that Ghana would win 3-1.

Moments later, I found myself wondering, did I really just speak on radio? I was excited while cringing at the same time.😆

My mum gave me a high five and praised my effort. Looking back, my perception of what was possible changed from that day forward for several reasons.

First, who was this little boy boldly predicting a 3-1 victory for Ghana against a Czech Republic side that was ranked second in the world at the time? It was a wild prediction.

Second, where did I find the confidence to insist on calling into a live radio programme? In my mind, those opportunities were reserved for grown-ups who were more articulate and experienced.

From that day on, my enthusiasm for both football and radio grew tremendously. It felt like something that was already in my blood.

As I grew older and gradually drifted away from some of those childhood dreams, people would occasionally encourage me to pursue a career in radio. They believed I had the personality and passion for it. I never took those suggestions too seriously and, perhaps subconsciously, I had temporarily forgotten where it all began.

Twenty years later, it is safe to say that radio found its way back to me in a very interesting manner (story for another day).

I have pursued many passions since then, and even in the midst of all that, I still believe this is only the beginning.

As for the football match itself, the Black Stars went on to shock the world that afternoon by defeating Czech Republic 2-0.

I predicted 3-1, so technically I wasn’t entirely wrong. Think about it: 3 minus 1 equals 2.😂

Twenty years feels like yesterday because I can still remember every detail so vividly. The voices, the excitement, the nerves, the pride, and the feeling of speaking and hearing myself on radio for the very first time.

It took me a moment to reflect and piece together the events of that day. There were no photos, videos or social media files to revisit, and without those memories, this story could easily have been lost to time.

If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s that the person you’re meant to become may not be as far away as you think. Sometimes, the clues are hidden in your earliest passions and the things that once made your heart come alive.

So take a moment to look back. You may discover that you’ve been shaped for something special all along. And if you’re fortunate, no matter how long it takes, that thing meant for you may find its way back when you least expect it.

Anyways, Ghana plays Panama today. 🇬🇭🇵🇦
What’s your prediction? 🤷🏽‍♂️

FIFAWorldCup2026

Source: SIRKENN.com