Moorosi Tsiane

THE Lesotho Football Association (LeFA) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) recently held a two-day sports journalists and premier league teams’ public relations officers’ workshop.

The workshop was aimed to empower sports journalist to bridge the gap between reporters and public relations officers.

The two-day workshop which ended on Friday was facilitated by Lesotho Times’ senior reporter Pascalinah Kabi and MISA director Lekhetho Ntsukunyane.

The participants discussed different issues that affect their day to day operations and how best they can improve their relations.

In closing the workshop, LeFA president, Salemane Phafane said the football mother body needs the two groups to grow the sport hence they must be selfless and put the sport first.

“You are all vital in the growth of the sport, we know that sport unites people and it gets that power from the media and for people to know about it through media, our public relations officers must communicate effectively,” Phafane said.

“Let us just be selfless and forget about ourselves and put the sport first.

“I am not saying you should not probe us (LeFA), I am saying probe us more because you are the ears and the eyes of this nation. However, do it because you want to help football not because you are pushing some agenda or personal vendetta.

“Sports needs journalists and in the same manner, journalists need sports. It is naivety at its highest level that we are always fighting each other. Our personal vendettas should come last,” Phafane said.

Premier League Management Committee (PLMC) spokesperson Moeketsi Ramakatsa said the workshop helped close the gap between them and the journalists.

“We thank the LeFA executive committee for agreeing to hold this initiative. For a long time, there seemed to be a huge gap between the journalists and clubs’ spokespersons but we finally got the chance to bridge those gaps in the workshop.

“We have learnt a lot of useful lessons from this workshop which will help us in our attempt to promote football,” Ramakatsa said.