When Journalists Become "Players"

When Journalists  Become "Players"

In sports, football, as the count down to this year's World Press Freedom Day, coming up on the 3rd of May 2019 narrows, journalists in the North West region have been carrying out several activities in the build up to the D-day.

Since last Wednesday, radio spots on press freedom, peace journalism, conflict deescalation and other societal issues have continuously been playing on the airwaves of many radio stations in Bamenda and environs. Social media banners on same subjects are also being circulated across several platforms.

Nji Nelson Chefor, Team Captain of CCMN

Yesterday Friday, a workshop with station managers, publishers and bloggers on "Content Building, Branding and Marketing" was held at Church Centre, Ntamulung, involving close to 30 participants after which some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Bamenda were also reached out to with humanitarian aide that was mostly made up of foodstuffs.

Today, Saturday April 27th 2019, an interesting friendly football encounter took place on the Big Mankon  Stadium pitting the Cameroon Association of English Speaking Journalists (CAMASEJ) North West chapter against the Cameroon Community Media Network (CCMN) North West and West Chapter. Throughout the encounter, spectators kept 'killing' themselve with laughter as they watched the unfolding drama on the field.

This Reporter After the Match

Both sides went for half time on a 0-0 scoreline situation but upon resumption for the second half, barely 15 minutes into action, CCMN's Ndasi Gilbert (9 shirt) got possession of the ball around the 18m box of CAMASEJ and with no obstruction, netted the first goal. It was petitioned by many CAMASEJANs to have been scored from an offside position but the central  referee that has the final say in every encounter validated the goal, in compliance with his two linesmen.

The much fun in the encounter was brought about by the calibre of players on the field: Bakah Derick (The Guardian Post) doubling as N.W chapter president of the Cameroon Journalist's Trade Union (CJTU), Ambe Macmillian (CAMASEJ N.W chapter president), Akumbom Elvis (Makati News), Choves Loh (Cameroon Tribune) Nfor Francis (MIDENO), Forkum Emmanuel (City FM) Gnoukapasi Martial (Afrique Nouvel Radio), Nji Nelson Chefor (Rush FM), Ndi Tsembom Elvis (FECAFOOT N.W S.G) Mokum Thomas, Neba Jerome, Musi Waa, Ojong Stephen and a host of others including this reporter.

Joyrnalists Brandishing Guinness Products

At the blast of the final whistle, the scoreline situation remained unchanged and so CCMN carried the day with CAMASEJ producing the man of the match through its goalkeeper, Akumbom Elvis. As the match ended, all cornered themselves at one angle of the field to listen to a peace talk that was presented by Mokum Njouny Nelson, Station Manager of Foundation Radio and Board member of CCMN, the sponsor of the match.

From the field of play, the next point of convergence was at the CAMASEJ usual meeting ground, Milano Restaurant for a common bite and drink. Here, the N.W Chapter president of CAMASEJ used the opportunity to on behalf of all  journalists in the region, sincerely appreciate all individuals and institutions that have positively responded to appeal letters they received from the organising committee of WPFD 2019 in Bamenda. He particularly thanked MTN Cameroon that provided a set of jerseys, stockings and two footballs to CAMASEJ N.W and FECAFOOT N.W that provided match officials. He also appreciated Guinness Cameroon that made available several crates of Origin and Malta Guinness, some of the company's brands for the journalists to always keep their throats wet.

CAMASEJ-N.W F.C

Surprisingly, before returning home, both players and other colleagues that simply watched the match went back home with a match bonus of 2000F each, thanks to CCMN, the match sponsor.

All attention is now turned towards Blue Pearl Hotel, Nkwen Bamenda where celebrations shall take place come Friday the 3rd of May 2019. We of this forum wish a  Happy World Press Freedom Day 2019 to all journalists and media practitioners in Cameroon, Africa and worldwide.