 has brought together media officers from all Super League teams and provincial offices){kind=link}
Zambia: The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has brought together media officers from all Super League teams and provincial offices for training under a CAF media officer.
FAZ president Andrew Kamanga says the launch of the Zambia Premier League presents an opportunity for media officers to reinvent the way they operate.
MultiChoice Head of Corporate Affairs Chilufya Mwelwa says her organization was happy to be part of the training for media officers as it would equip them with operational skills.
Uganda-based media consultant Andrew Oryada is running the media through various aspects like media operations crisis management with other speakers like respected media consultant and football administrator Pongal Liwewe making a presentation.
Retired FIFA referee Stanley Hachiwa will make a presentation on the laws of the game in relation to media reportage. Launching the workshop, Kamanga said media officers were encouraged to step up and meet the demands of club licensing.
“Just a few days ago, we were launching the Zambian Premier League, which marked a drastic shift in the management of our game. The launch of the ZPL presented opportunities in media and marketing for our game,” Kamanga said.
“We expect that with the launch of the ZPL, our teams will improve how they operate to meet the public’s expectations. For the ZPL to be an attractive brand, it must be well packaged by the media, but most importantly, the way clubs are going to operate will determine how attractive the total package will be. The onus will lie on your members of the press to prove that you can step up and match up the changes that the launch of the ZPL presents.”
He said that FAZ had included media officers from the provinces to ensure that they highlighted the works of their regions.
“FAZ has decentralized its operations with provincial offices across the country. The provincial offices mirror the structure at FAZ, and we have given them leeway to engage staff like media to ensure their activities are highlighted,” he said.
“Understandably, this is a process that is still in its infancy. However, the onus again is on you, members of the media, to grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Kamanga added: “The expectation is that from here, you will not just improve the way you work but make the right noises. You are lucky that you have a well-travelled and qualified instructor who will run you through this programme.”
“This is an important workshop because it will equip the media officers on subjects like laws of the game, media relations and guide on football club dos and don’ts. MultiChoice is happy to be associated with this workshop because it is in line with MultiChoice’s desire to promote and develop Zambian football,” Mwelwa said.
She said that MultiChoice had supported football in the country for many years and valued its partnership with FAZ.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga said Football House was setting the tone for clubs to follow in observing media guidelines.
“It is not by accident that under the current FAZ executive, it has become mandatory for clubs to employ qualified media officers. We are extending this benchmark to our newly set provincial offices that are a product of the decentralization exercise,” he said.
“We have led by example at Football House by having a fully-fledged media office that has seen us normalize the presence of media at all international and local engagements for our national teams and non-match-related activities.”
The general secretary thanked clubs and provincial offices for sending representatives for the media workshop. FAZ hosted a workshop for club chief executive officers under the auspices of SuperSport.