As the biggest soccer publication on the African continent, Soccer-Laduma prides itself on a culture of journalistic integrity, ethics and respect for our readers.
Although the current transfer window has perhaps been relatively slower than previous ones, there has been a bit of activity. But I'm not going to talk about Knowledge Musona coming back to Kaizer Chiefs, Moeneeb Josephs leaving Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns snatching Dove Wome or any other major transfer happenings. No, I choose to address the sometimes overlooked issue of PSL clubs' spokespersons and their ducking-and-diving behaviour, when it comes to dealing with the media. I'm not sure if this is a problem unique to South African football, but it is quite disturbing.
I am immediately reminded of an interview that Sundowns' mega rich President, Patrice Motsepe, did with Soccer-Laduma some time ago, where he mentioned that he needed to solve a lot of problems at the club, including that of Alex Shakoane, the then club spokesperson, switching his phone off and being inaccessible to give information to the media. Now, Alex, these days the supporters' relations manager at the club, has always been a character of note. The man nicknamed 'Goldfingers' would seem to do all he could to avoid your call, and when the story came out, he would spit fire and call you, asking why you never got the club's side of the story before going to print.
Not that he is an isolated case. Every day, as we get stories landing on our desks and the transfer frenzy reaches dizzying heights, the hardest thing seems to be getting confirmation from club spokespersons. I do understand it is hard for them to go on record and confirm stories before getting the go-ahead from their club bosses, but the club spokespersons are defensive even in situations where a simple 'yes' would have done the trick. You'd swear they don't care about their own supporters' and the public's need to get informed. There is a tendency on their part to treat the media as an enemy and not as a platform to market the club's brand.
It's actually on very few occasions, and sometimes under very desperate circumstances, that a club spokesperson will call you as a journalist. When that happens, you sometimes almost fall off your chair or you keep asking who is on the line – such is the shock element! Calls are never returned. Denials are the order of the day. I have found that some of their favourite lines are, "Where did you get that from?", "I'm in a meeting!", "Check our website." or "There's no such thing." Blah, blah, blah. Yawn!
There are times you will ask about a player that your sources at the club have told you is definitely training with the club, and the most likely response will be, "Who is that?" or "I saw him at training today, but I'm not sure what's happening with him." If you are the go-to guy in terms of information at the club, but are in the dark about the club's ins and outs, then what about your supporters' right to know? What are they spending their hard-earned money to watch the team at the stadium for? Do they really feel part of the club when they don't know who their club has signed, who is not being kept for the new season and what exciting developments are happening?
If a lot of our clubs' spokespersons are honest with themselves, they will know that they are short-changing their own supporters by withholding important information. Well, Soccer-Laduma's duty is to inform, and inform we will continue doing. But wouldn't it just make life much easier for everyone if our clubs' mouthpieces finally came to the party?
By Lunga Adam
Soccer-Laduma journalist
Follow Lunga on Twitter: @Lunga110
