EDITORIAL

Sports Journalism is one of few careers  that do not only excite but gives the young reporters a chance  to be among the sports elite who are oftenly celebrated in every  country.

In Kenya the football problem has persisted for many years but its sad to take note that the same Sports Journalists have been deeply entrenched in the football fiasco most of the time dining and wining with the football fathers in the country in the name of protecting their territorial overtures after their palms are greased to be in the “Right” side of the coin.

Today there is totally nothing to write home about as the noble proffesion has been turned into a minting ground by some journalists who seek political correctness and personal emolument  while at the same time looking to make a quick buck lazily while distorting facts and covering crucial leads that would put the so called Football godfathers to shame.

Its a shame that the football fraternity that include fans,former footballers and stakeholders have been clamouring for change to bring the much needed radical surgery in football but the same mission has been  shortchanged by the same journalists who have sort to give the dissenting “football” voices a media blackout after  some unscrupulous journos getting payments from their masters to kill any stories that may potray them in bad light and this is without any prejudice .

Most but not all the sports journalist have lost their respect and integrity among the readers with their skewed and unpalatable articles always praise worshiping the federation and seeing no wrong on how the beautiful game is managed helping to further destroy the hopes of thousand of young upcoming footballers who have a dream of making it big in the game.

The recent debacle that saw Harambee Stars knocked out by minnows Lesotho had its fair share of drama an dry innuendo from the praise masters some of them who excised their journalistic mandate heaping praise on the federation and its officials while lambasting club for failing to live up to the high standards.

How on earth can a journalist suggest that its upon the clubs to initiate youth football in the ranks to bolster the senior team?Yes its a valid dream but not applicable in Kenya and the question i would like to pose to the journalists how do you expect a club to manage a youth team and yet it cannot even manage itself financially?

Getting football sponsorship in Kenya is the most difficult task its like trying to get a needle in a haystack and all this is because of the bad management that has scared off the willing sponsors who have decided to put their money into good use in more respectable federations .

Football is one of the most expensive ventures and as long as a country has a tainted federation then clubs are at risk of not even surviving a season due to hardships caused lack of financial support so i wonder how  journalists can argue about youth teams in a country where football is still regarded as a hobby but not as a business?

The young upcoming journalists dreams of covering big tournaments like Africa Cup of Nations have been killed and continue to be killed by the so called senior journalists who are in bed with the federation for personal selfish purposes and are so much okey when Kenya is eliminated by minnows Lesotho so the big question is why continue practicing when your dream only ends locally?The same journalists are supposed to be in the forefront of ensuring that the federation is put under check to ensure that our upcoming young talents future is not muzzled but when they aimlesly and carelessly sing praises of the same people helping to destroy the game in Kenya then you wonder  where is Kenyan football headed to?

It was unbelivable when a section of the local media gave a footballers presser a wide berth and blackout just because the naysers had issued strict instructions that the same should not be covered and to add salt to injury the same ex-footballers were criticized instead of being listened to leading me to the question is the federation AN ANIMAL FARM?

Collins Okinyo

Ex- CAF Media Expert. An expert on African football with over 15 years experience ,always with an ear to the ground with indepth knowledge of the game. I have worked for top publications including 7 years at www.supersport.com until i founded www.soka25east.com to quench the thirst of football lovers across the continent. I have trained young upcoming journalists who are now a voice in African football.I have covered World Cup,AFCON,CHAN,Champions League,Confederations Cup,Cecafa,Cosafa,Wafu and many other football tournaments across the World. Founder Football Africa Arena(FAA),Founder www.afrisportdigital.com