In my early days in the media, I was once offered a job to be a Sports Journalist in one of the eSwatini daily newspaper and I rejected the offer because clearly, there’s nothing interesting about sports journalism in this country except to report petty issues involving teams.
Well, my greatest fear was that, joining sports journalism would limit my potential in journalism, sports journalists are doing a disservice to the Nation, they are not even putting pressure on Government to support sports.
Currently, we are facing a crisis in the football fraternity, Manzini Wanderers,Mbabane Swallows and Mbabane Highlanders are facing financial challenges,these challenges resulted to Wanderers facing a relegation.
Sports journalists are reporting the events as they manifest without giving analytical information with regards to magnitude of the football crisis, it is our duty as the media to report news and further suggests solutions to the problems we are reporting about.
The looming fall of Manzini Wanderers, Swallows and Highlanders will have negative a impact on football and the economy, these teams attract a large number of followers to the Stadiums and in the process, filling stations, public transport owners, informal traders and even bottle stores benefit because these football fans,have a buying power and they normal spend money on their way to and from the Stadiums.
I am not saying Manzini Wanderers must not be relegated but, relegating Wanderers while Highlanders and Swallows face similar challenges means, our football will soon be extinct and all this, is caused by lack of practical financial support.
In South Africa, we have companies like Vodacom who support giant teams like Orlando Pirates, we appeal for similar support on behalf of the financially struggling local giant teams, let’s have companies like MTN, Montigny, Royal Sugar Corporation, Illovo, Conco and others corporate entities, pumping serious money to support these teams and then have their logo on the soccer kits, let us learn to support our own.
Football teams are not only promoting talents for young people but, this sport is an entertainment for emaSwati, people go to the Stadiums to have fun and reduce stress.
Indeed, football is a uniting sport for emaSwati regardless of political ideologies.
Furthermore, football is a business and contribute to the economy, the problem in this country is the lack of financial support, a very few understand the business aspect of football.
But I was also ignorant with regards to the business aspect of this sport until the late Victor Gamedze gave me some ‘lecture’ one day.
When I grew-up, I was a strong supporter of Eleven Men in Flight, my favorite players were Amani ‘Mandela’ Habimani from Burundi, Bright Maradona Zondo, Celumusa ‘Sister Monica’ Vilakati, John ‘Hamba Jona Uye Ninive’ Maseko, Oscar ‘Gogo’ Simelane among others.
In 1995, Eleven Men in Flight won all trophies except for the Trade Fair Cup,Manzini Wanderers beat Eleven Men 3-1 in the Finals and, it was John ‘Shisa Junior’ Mdluli whose amazing skills stoped Eleven Men from making history of winning all trophies in that season.
I used to watch soccer for free at Somhlolo Stadium because I have identified an informal entry,as young as eleven(11) years, it was easy to just sneak into the Stadium through that small entry point but, I had a challenge with the free entry at the Trade Fair because it was far from my home area.
I had the best time of my youth watching soccer during those days and now, everything is falling apart.
Well, these Eleven Men in Flight players were able to shine and entertain us because businessman Moses Motsa was pumping money supporting football, the team was relegated after he withdrew his support.
We appeal to companies and businesspeople to support these three(3) Premier League giant teams, soccer is not just a sport but a healing therapy for fans, we are going through a lot in life and at least during weekends, we had something to debate and laugh about.
The media must also assist the teams and influence support for this sport in the public interest, in this country, it seems sports journalism is about telling us the score every after a football game.
We must develop this sport into serious business and make it a vibrant economic activity entertainment sport.
As the situation stands, we don’t have Stadiums that meet the Federation of International Football Association(FIFA) and now, giant teams are collapsing, we need urgent solutions.
Mbabane Highlanders(pic: Facebook).