Lesego Pooe's 'The Australian Man' Slip Goes Viral, SA Broadcasters Rally to Her Defence
- SuperSport presenter Lesego Pooe referred to Fox Cricket's Mark Howard as 'the Australian man' during live Test coverage in Durban
- The clip spread rapidly on social media on Tuesday, 13 October, drawing sharp criticism from some cricket viewers
- South African sports broadcasters Thomas Mlambo and Sam Naik publicly responded to the backlash, pointing to Pooe's years of experience in the sport
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SuperSport cricket presenter Lesego Pooe became the subject of an online debate after a clip from live coverage of the first Test between South Africa and Australia went viral on Monday, 12 October.
Source: Instagram
The moment in question occurred during SuperSport's broadcast in Durban, when Pooe referred to veteran Australian sports broadcaster Mark Howard simply as "the Australian man." Howard, who is widely known as Howie, has more than 20 years of experience in sports broadcasting with Fox Cricket,
Fox Footy and Triple M. According to social media user Tom Haylock, Howard later introduced himself in commentary as "The Australian Man," turning the original slip into a running joke among viewers online.
Reactions to the clip ranged from ridicule to sympathy. Some described it as among the most awkward moments witnessed on live television, while others noted that Howard handled it professionally and continued with the broadcast without disruption.
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Thomas Mlambo and Sam Naik Push Back
Not everyone was willing to let the moment define Pooe's career. South African sports broadcasters Thomas Mlambo and Sam Naik each took to social media to push back against the criticism.
"Feel for Lesego, she's definitely not an overnight or social media influencer type who just got a gig," Mlambo wrote on X.
"Those who know have seen her hustle in the domestic game for years. Don't know what happened but hope she bounces back from this slip up," he added.
Naik was equally firm in his assessment.
"For anyone that knows Lesego Pooe, they will tell you just how outstanding she is at her job. She's one of the most professional individuals I've ever come across and also one of the most knowledgeable," he wrote, adding:
"Everyone has a slip now and then. The hate and comments are so unnecessary."
Pooe's Career in Cricket Broadcasting
Pooe's path to live Test coverage stretches back several years. In a 2022 interview with *Drum*, she described how her love of cricket began with watching Test matches at home as a child. She started producing cricket match summaries for YouTube in 2018 before her work attracted the attention of industry figures.
She has since worked with SuperSport, Cricket South Africa, FairBreak Global, the International Cricket Council, Lions Cricket and Gsport4girls. Her broadcasting credits include match build-ups, innings analysis, player interviews and post-match discussions across both men's domestic and women's international cricket.
Social media user Potso Aphane challenged viewers to consider that context before concluding.
"Yes, she made a mistake, but to reduce her work and qualifications because of a narrative you've been holding on to? Please🙄," the user wrote.
Unsubstantiated claims about the circumstances of Pooe's appointment also circulated in the comments but were not supported by any evidence.
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Source: Briefly News
