By S. Siapha Mulbah
The president of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia, Varmah Kamara, has outlined the pillars of his leadership, reflecting on financial viability, capacity building, decentralization, as well as professionalism and independence, as he heads the corps of officials at the organization for the next three years.
In his induction statement during the colorful program on Friday, March 1, 2024, Varmah said the issues of concern in the sporting environment of Liberia center on how sports journalists present the details of professional reporting, and SWAL, under his watch, is ready to work on the above pillars to have members retaining their credibility.
He said the capacity building process of sports reporters, decentralization and enhancement of professionalism, and independent reporting, will become the yardstick and working tools for his administration, because they are key to the rejuvenation of the association.
“It is important to note that the above four vital pillars earmarked by our leadership are the main challenges confronting the sports media in Liberia, and continue to hold us back as an institution. Until these issues are addressed, it will be very difficult, if not impossible, for SWAL to go forward,” he revealed.
He added that the need for the capacity building comes in after attestation of the lack of formal training for many journalists, especially at the entry level to the profession, terming it as a serious challenge.
Varmah maintained that to balance on such improvement, his leadership has developed a strategy that will ensure that they have a quarterly training program that will help augment the skills of sports journalists in various disciplines and specialties.
Interestingly, he averred that their agenda for the training program is not only restricted to Liberia, as there are plans to engage regional and international partners to provide opportunities to the association’s members to broaden their knowledge and experience, in an effort to compete with the global community.
He furthered that financial viability is a pillar very dear to the hearts of SWAL leaders because in the absence of financial independence, it is impossible to be a vibrant institution as they all envisage the association.
“So, we want to ensure that we engage partners, both local and international, private and public, including the sport’s governing body, to support SWAL. Therefore, we are looking forward to exploring that avenue to ensure that SWAL becomes vibrant to provide quality reporting that will attract fans to the games,” he noted.
Varmah Kamara explained that over the years, one key concern that the membership of the Sports Writer Association has raised is lack of independence on the part of previous SWAL leaderships, which is now intended to be changed by the new leadership.
He said, as the members of the association strive to be neutral in their daily reportage, it is incumbent upon them to also endeavor to ensure that the mother body is of no exception, adding that “If sport is to adequately develop, SWAL must take a definite posture that will hold stakeholders and federations in the sector accountable.”
According to him, SWAL must be that critical voice highlighting and reporting on the ills affecting the sector to ensure improved growth and development without fear or favor.
He added, “Therefore, under our leadership with these gallant men and a lady, we will make sure that SWAL becomes an independent body in the interest of sports development.”
Varmah maintained that the decentralization process initiated by the former president, Kolubah Zayzay, will be widened to recruit young and talented sports reporters across other counties that have not been factored all through the past years.