In support of fellow journalists

This year I had hoped that all I would be writing about would be glorious times and yet I am reverting back in defence of sport journalism, which has come under fire from administrators.
The fact that it was Sheefeni Nicodemus a few weeks and now the name of Hesron Kapanga is doing the rounds and under the attack from those in power.
I have witnessed how our names are being dragged through the mud on WhatsApp groups run by those that are close to those in leadership positions.
I must say what the NFA recently did by calling a press conference and singling out a journalist during that conference was unacceptable.
I must admit that some responses show that people are uncomfortable and feathers have been ruffled.
These people are trying to blame journalists for their own questionable administration.
Those WhatsApp groups supporting these kinds of acts are probably unaware of the role that we as journalists have to play in society.
As journalists we have nothing personal against those in charge but our role is to hold them accountable.
In fact, we do not even know who your parents are, nor do we have any ties beyond the sport industry and we therefore have no reason to be your enemies, as you perceive us to be.
The problem with sport administrators is that they expect us to portray an image of blooming roses while we see some deadwood in their administration.
For us as journalists, when it is good it’s good and when it is bad it is bad, hence we call a spade a spade.
As for me, I refuse to be threatened by people on WhatsApp groups and sports administrators calling us ‘laaities’.
We have often endured threats and insults from different administrators and those close to them but we will not be intimidated.
Some of us are from the streets and if you want to take that path, trust me we are capable of bringing out the sleeping hood in us.
As trained professionals, we will however not stoop so low and give you the satisfaction but we will continue using the pen as a tool to educate, entertain and inform.
This Namibia does not belong to specific people but to all of us and no one will dictate to us how to write our articles or what kind of questions to ask.
We work at credible institutions with well-trained and educated people in the industry.
Our articles go through several validation processes before being published.
It is therefore unacceptable that people continue to accuse us of being unethical or holding personal grudges against the football association.
We care about the development of this game and we definitely want the best for sport.
The only thing that we can do as people operating in the same industry is to maintain healthy relationships for the good of sport.
Stop blaming the media for publishing negative news, which we do not suck out of our thumbs.
Yes, as administrators you are in charge of your organisations, but we are in charge of making sure that public office is not misused.
We are in charge of making sure that every young, aspiring Namibian athlete has a chance of becoming a global sensation.
We are equally in charge of being the voices of the voiceless and the eyes of the eyeless.
This is an oath we have taken as media practitioners and not even threats can hold us back.
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