The folly of belittling sports journalism
It makes me proud to be part of the winning brand—Nation Publications Limited (NPL). What more proof does one require given that for a third year running, Misa-Malawi has recognised NPL as the 2015 Print Media of the Year. And NPL swept individual awards like ngumbi. But I have a concern to raise over prizes for sports journalists in this annual event. By offering the least—in terms of prize value—to print and electronic journalists of the year, the impression given is that the sports category is only there for the sake of mention. This is unfortunate because the sports beat is as serious as any other beat in journalism. Sports journalism also embraces investigative aspects and implores research. Practitioners equally need modern equipment such as laptops and tabs. But hear what this year’s awardees got, a meagre K100 000—not even enough to buy a second-hand laptop. Honestly, the organisers and those that seek publicity in the pretext of sponsoring prizes are a bunch of jokers. Where in the world is sports journalism belittled like that? Funny enough, sports organs such as MOC and Sports Council watch this circus year in, year out. It’s a big shame.
Tell FAM buses don’t play football
Is it not crazy for someone to think about buying an additional dinner set when a free one they have can still serve the purpose and allow them to use available money for better food to serve in the available free set? This is the question that comes to mind when I hear about the Football Association of Malawi (FAM) still pursuing the idea of buying a bus for the Flames when another one has been provided for free by the South African Football Association (Safa). Actually, the powers that be at FAM ought to know that running two buses is not a joke. I can guess that they want to be hiring out the other one to generate money, but don’t forget that FAM is not a car hire firm, it is there to run Malawi football. If they have nothing better to do with the money, let them send it to flood victims, get publicised once and for all rather than buy a bus whose maintenance costs will haunt them forever.
