From: michael seium (michael.seium@gmail.com)
Date: Wed Sep 02 2009 - 17:20:58 EDT
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Eri-International Sports Comments <michael.seium@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 2, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Subject: [Eri-International Sports] CECAFA under 17 tournament media
coverage.
To: michael.seium@gmail.com
<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Y6IJspzYcjk/Sp7hAAls9GI/AAAAAAAAAR4/jaBracGR9I4/s1600-h/top.jpg>
*
*
* First and foremost, Congratulations to the Champions of the CECAFA under
17 tournament that just concluded in Sudan. Uganda by playing hard defeated
a strong Eritrean team that surprised many and in the process got terrible
media coverage. It is such a shame to follow some of the media outlets from
most of the CECAFA countries and see articles and information that was not
accurate. It is frustrating to see that what truly was happening on the
ground was not being reported correctly. Could it be that there are many
beginner sports journalists working in some of those media outlets or a
simple act of terrible journalism purposely done to favor their own teams? *
*
*
* First and foremost the CECAFA website was not updated on a regular basis
even after the second week when most of the games were completed. I mean
what is the purpose of having a website for an event if information is not
updated. It took fans and followers almost two days to find out scores of
the games. I believe the event was promoted and got hyped so that it can get
international coverage. If FIFA truly wants East and Central Africa to build
strong squads it should also help with the growth process of media coverage.
*
* Now to team Eritrea, which shocked most spectators when they advanced to
the next round after tying both Burundi and Rwanda respectable teams.
Eritrea went on to beat Zanzibar who were fairly strong and beat Sudan to
advance to the finals against Uganda. *
*
*
*Uganda defeated under 17 world cup qualifier Malawi to advance to the
finals. While I believe the Eritrean national team had an opportunity to win
the title they fell slightly short to a strong Ugandan team. So you would
think that the media coverage would favor an underdog team that no body
expected to get to the finals. However, to our dismay the Eritrean team was
not heard of or talked about until they got to the finals, even then it was
a small coverage saying that Eritrea made it to the finals. Thank god for
local Eritrean media we can get the whole scoop from our own media. Then as
if some of those countries who lost their chance to win the event did not
have enough they continue to smear the Eritrean team with lies.*
*
*
*One thing Eritrea is known for is being truthful about the age of it's
players. In Norway in the late 90's some of the youth Eritrean players who
surprised the likes of Ronaldinho of Brazil and the thousands of
participants at the Norway Cup were subjugated to age investigation and came
up with flying colors. In the end the two Eritrean teams made it to the
finals and proved that Eritrea was and continues to be a soccer power
despite all obstacles. So when you see an article from an armature writer
who interviewed the Tanzanian youth Coordinator and then without facts posts
the quote, you can then understand the envy others have towards the Eritrean
national under 17 team squad, Here is the quote by **The TFF head of Youth
Competition, Msafiri Mgoyi **from the newspaper known as "The Citizen",*
*Mgoyi** said that some teams fielded married players with children and came
with their families in the competition. "One of the Eritrean players came
with his family and a child, we have photographed him, these showed how the
competition is about, we strictly **respected all of the competition," said
**Mgoyi**. ** *
*
*
*While the CECAFA have taken appropriate action against the host team Sudan
for using overage players, the Eritrean team has not been fined nor
questioned, as a matter of fact they have been rewarded the second place
prize and will continue to build the youth for the next level.
Congratulations to coach Negash Teklit for doing an outstanding job good
luck to the Red Sea boys in the future.*
*
*
*Mike Seium*
*eri-international sports blog*
-- Posted By Eri-International Sports Comments to Eri-International Sports<http://eri-internationalsports.blogspot.com/2009/09/cecafa-under-17-tournament-media.html>at 9/02/2009 12:55:00 PM
