The two-day Sports Media Officers’ training which aims at enhancing the capacity of football media officers, officially ended yesterday, June 20, 2024. More than 50 participants from various media houses turned up for the training and were awarded certificates at the end of the training.
The president of the South Sudan Football Association in his closing remarks, stressed that the media and Sports Journalists are very critical in promoting football and as well engaging with football fans across the country and the world in general.
He added that the media contributes a lot to football through the documentary and profiling of players, which attracts attention from different parts of the world and allows the players to cross borders.
“It’s the role of the media and Sports Journalists to educate the fans about football and its advantages as it sells the image of the players,” Maduot said, urging the Sports Journalists to engage with the association and promote nationalism through writing and sports coverage.
For his part, the Spokesperson of SSFA, Mr. Albino Kuek Deng, said the world does not progress without the media because the media keeps people informed on different events that happen daily, citing that media educate and also entertains through the live coverage of sporting events.
He believes that excellent results come when there is a collaboration between the media and the association, pointing out that the football association media has a progressive step towards improving football through engaging with the people and the media throughout the country. “We have a plan of licensing sport journalists especially the journalists covering football activities – the purpose is to have your real identity and the work you do, which will help you get opportunities,” Kuek reveals, urging the participants to take part in changing South Sudan through the media, by advocating for football in the right way.
The Secretary General of the association urges the participants to specialize in the areas they are best at, stressing that it will make work easier and create a favorable environment for everyone. He added that the purpose of the training is to upgrade the knowledge of Sports Journalists by having experts from the regional level because the media plays a great role in promoting football development in the country through its coverage.
Meanwhile, Mr. Andrew Jackson Oryada, CECAFA Media Officer and the Instructor of the training appreciated SSFA for initiating the training to allow Sports Journalists to interact and share beneficial ideas.
“I am very impressed with the level of maturity and the desire shown by the participants, which tells that the country has Journalists who follow football and are trying their best to send a message to the public and also improve football in South Sudan,” Jackson attests.
Finally, the representative of the participants, Miss. Amanda Lucy thanked the federation for conducting an educative workshop which has solved some of the problems Sports Journalists go through in their coverage. She also encouraged the participants to implement what they have learned into their day-to-day activities for a better outcome.
