The executive of the Sierra Leone Sports Writers Association (SWASAL) on Friday paid a cutesy call on the Sports Minister Madam Augusta James Teima at her Bishop House office, Brookfields Freetown.
Talking on behalf of the executive of the association, President Sahr Morris Jr. said they were at the Ministry to congratulate the new Minister and her Deputy Kei Lawrence Mbayo who was retained as the Deputy Minister.
Morris went on that just after the appointment of the new Minister they sent a congratulatory message to her. He went on that apart from congratulating her, they want her to know that they were in good relationship with the former Minister and his deputy which they want to maintain.
Morris went on that they know not all Sports journalists are perfect in their reporting. Some, he said before were only conversant in reporting football.
But now, he said this crop of sports journalists can report on sports like Cricket, Athletics, Volleyball, and several others.
SWASAL, he said is also planning to capacitate some of their members. By so doing, he said they have talked to LICSAL to introduce certificates courses in Mass Communication and say they have also done the same to Milton Margai College of Education.
Morris went on that they have planned to organize awards night which he said they would like to partner with the Sports Ministry to undertake.
He explained that they have Regional bodies in the provinces. He appealed to the Minister to empower some of their members to be covering and reporting international competitions out of Sierra Leone.
At the end of his speech, the Vice President of the association Mohamed L. Bah presented a printed photo of the Minister herself as a gift.
In response, the Sports Minister thanked the executive for their gift and congratulatory message. She told them that before her appointment, she has been in sports as a coach, administrator and as a Lecturer.
She said the role they are doing is very vital as the people depend on them to get information on the various sports. The Minister though said some of them are in the habit of misinforming the people.
As such to stop the misinformation, she advised them to visit their office if they have anything that they have doubt in. She too supports SWASAL for the plans they have to capacitate their members as she said they can’t report on events they don’t have the knowledge to report on.
Madam Teima told the executive she is happy to know that their members are not limited in their reports on one sport.
In the issue of the awards night, she assured them that the Ministry will work with them as it is one way to motivate athletes, coaches, administrators and all that are concern with sports.
She pledged her support to them and say SWASAL will be their partners in development.
