By: Paul Kamara
paulkamara772@gmail.com
With funding from the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), the National Executive of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) on Thursday 8 December 2022 ended a-two-day training on Sports Commentary at the Harry Yansanneh Hall, SLAJ Headquarters in Freetown.
The training brought together 10 selected sports journalists from across the country in order to be better equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge needed to carryout sports Commentaries professionally and efficiently.
The facilitators were carefully selected. All with sound knowledge and wealth of experience in their respective fields.
The facilitators include: Durosimi Thomas, a senior BBC-trained and certified expert, Sorie Ibrahim Sesay-Director of Competitions (SLFA), Franklyn Angel Foray Marah-Referee's Manager (SLFA), and Ahmed Kanu-President of the Sierra Leone Volleyball Association.
Speaking on the significance of the training, National President of SWASAL Sahr Moris Jr. underscored, the quest to capacitate its members triggered the training which training he said the association has missed for over a decade.
He thanked the SLFA for the support, while appreciate the past executive of SWASAL for the role played in paving the way for the success of the training.
"I want to thank the SLFA for the funding. I also want to thank the former executive of SWASAL as this initiative started with them but was completed by us. As they say government is continuity, so we are proud to complete the mission", he said.
"As an executive we are doing this because we want to keep improving on our membership's ability".
"The first training we held as an executive was done in Collaboration with the Sierra Leone Criket Association to train sports writers on Criket Reporting and today we can boast of having over 20 members who can adequately report Criket nationally and internationally, before now it wasn't like that".
"As an executive we are also planning to do more. There are more things on the floor. We are in engagements with other partners, very soon you'll hear of other good news" he assured.
Sahr Moris called on the participants to make the best of the training as well as cascade knowledge gained to colleagues in their respective regions.
During the first day of the training, Franklyn Angel Foray Marah-Referee's Manager at the SLFA schooled sports journalists on the laws of the game (football) changes and clarifications made placing emphasis on Law 3, 8, 10, 12, & 14.
He said football has seen some changes made on the rules after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a number of amendments and clarifications to the laws of the game.
He therefore noted that as sports journalists they need to be aware of these changes in order to pass on the right message to their audience.
"Now let me tell you all this, as sports commentators you'll need to have a strong and clear knowledge of the sport you're covering. If this is lacking you'll be always misinforming your followers and often creating unecesary tensions. It is therefore good that you are well informed about the game to not only commentate but also educate your followers alone the way.
Durosimi Thomas a senior BBC trained and certified expert with wealth of experience in football commentaries handle the second session on the first day.
Mr Thomas who started practicing in 1993 have covered 7 AFCON tournaments between 1996 and 2008. Since 2007 to date he has been training sports journalists across Africa.
Making his presentation, he began by informing all participants that commentary is not about singing but rather need to have the knowledge and skills to do it professionally.
"Most sports journalists thinks commentary is about singing or running from start to finish with no breathing space, but sadly it's never so. Many of you and your colleagues out there have been/are making this mistake", he said.
Mr Thomas also told all participants that there is a clear distinction between running commentaries on the radio/Television and that of social media.
For participants to easily and better relate to the training he used several illustrations and practices to pass on his message. He also used drama to interpret his course leading him to divide participants into groups, he then gave them the opportunity to share issues discussed in the different groups.
He shared few tips which he said are helpful for all commentators. Amongst which he stated are: Knowledge, Preparation, Research and Audience.
Explaining he said, a good commentator should have a good knowledge of the sport he's covering, be fully prepared before the match, learn the pronunciations and pronouns of the names of players, officials etc, do thorough research and try to understand and relate well with your audience.
The final facilitator on the first day was Sorie Ibrahim Sesay- the current Director of Competitions at the SLFA .
Mr Sesay took participants through the Do's and Don't of a commentator as well as what makes a good commentator amongst which he noted one must possess an academic qualification, be an excellent researcher, build on work experience and must and get an agent.
He shared his personal experience of being a commentator also mentioning some commentators he had trained all of whom he said are proud of today. He also used his experience sharing moment to motivate participants to do their level best in improving on their personal best at all times.
On Day Two, President of the Sierra Leone Volleyball Association-Ahmed Khanou in his PowerPoint Presentation began by introducing the sports to the participants .
He said, volleyball is a game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side, in which the players use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net, trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents’ playing area before it can be returned.
He also made known the different types of volleyball games played.
The final facilitator, Alexander Thullah a seasoned sports commentator in his PowerPoint Presentation noted that Sports commentators describe what's happening at sporting events and at times offer their opinions to listeners and viewers.
As part of motivating and inspiring all, Alexander also used the opportunity to share his personal experience as a commentator who have covered several sporting events nationally and internationally.
He encouraged all to learn the more as learning he says is a gradual process. The training on Sports Commentary he furthered cannot be completed within the two days allocated. He therefore encouraged all to do more research and always be open to corrections.
On their part, some of the participants who benefited from the training like Juana Karim Juana from the Eastern Region, Paul Kamara from the Southern Region, Mohamed Bah from the Northern Region and Marie Esther Samura from the Western Area all on behalf of their colleagues thanked the SWASAL Executive, SLFA and the Facilitators for the training which they described as timely.
They promised to replicate knowledge gained, adding that they're on the standby and are always ready to answer to the call of the Association (SWASAL) at any time duty demands to represent the association for commentary purposes.
The presentation of certificates to all participants climaxed the training.
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