Asaba Africa Championships Notebook - Day 4

Poorly prepared scribes irritating

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Interesting scenes are being witnessed at the athletes’ interview area at the Stephen Keshi Stadium with poorly prepared journalists making a mockery of the profession by asking stupid questions. One local journalist particularly stood out for his lack of knowledge after the 100 metres final on Thursday won by South Africa’s Akani Simbine.

He interviewed Simbine, alright, although it was more of shoving the recorder in the South African’s face. After five minutes of the interview, the journalists asked the new African champion: “OK, please tell me what’s your name is?” much to the chagrin of both athlete and fellow journalists. Lack of research has been a major setback for African athletics journalism, one of the reasons that the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is conducting media training on the sidelines of the African Championships here.

Semenya’s popularity rising by the day

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Controversial South African middle distance star Caster Semenya’s fan base is increasing by the day, largely thanks to the athlete’s positive approach to turbulent times that have threatened her career. During the qualifying rounds here, she was met with thunderous applause from the crowd with journalists alike impressed by her humility and straightforwardness.

Threatened with a ban from women’s races due to her high testosterone levels, Semenya has taken it in her stride, remaining focused under a barrage of questions from prying media and she is equally popular with her fellow competitors whom she hugs after each race whispering the words “you are the champion” even after she has floored them by a mile. Semenya’s decision to show up at the African Championships has also been a major boost for organisers with her popularity attracting fans into the Stephen Keshi Stadium.

When it rains, it pours!

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As though transport and logistics problems affecting the championship organisers are not enough, a water tank in the stadium’s compound collapsed on Thursday, destroying two cars but, fortunately, injuring no-one. Poor workmanship in the hurry to get the stadium ready for the competition led to sub-standard works. But in a statement by media chief Olukayode Thomas, the organisers faulted the way the collapse was reported “to give a wrong perception of what actually happened.”

The veteran journalists said: “It is unfortunate to see journalists deliberately chose not to be professional in their work. The area in question is far away from the stadium where the championship is taking place. It is also still under construction, hence no one has passed it fit for use. None of this was put in context but the reporter only chose to take the shine off the good work the Delta State government is doing and the excitement the African athletes are having in Asaba since the championship kicked off on Wednesday.”

Basic facilities lacking at venue

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Still on the much talked about Stephen Keshi Stadium, journalists are having to endure lack of running water in the media centre’s toilets that are shared by athletes completing their competitions in the “mixed zone.” Particularly interesting is the fact that the men’s toilets are manned by bucket-wielding women who quickly poor water into the cistern after each use, much to the amusement of journalists who have not become accustomed to the anomaly. But for all the criticism levelled against the hurriedly constructed stadium, locals stand to be the biggest beneficiaries after these championships as no one would have imagined that such a facility would be put up in Delta State, with credit going to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who has mobilised resources to host the championships after initial hosts Lagos withdrew after having won the hosting rights two years ago.

Speedy exit planned for athletes

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Stung by criticism over the way they handled team arrivals for the championships, organisers are looking at ensuring there are no issues with the departures. Delta State commissioner for information Patrick Ukah says Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is unhappy with the negative reports following delays in transfers from Lagos to Asaba. “We are going to liaise with the organising committee to see how we can implement a speedy and stress free evacuations.

“The governor is not happy with the shortcomings noticed in the transit arrangements,” the commissioner told the Vanguard newspaper. “But some of these are not to be blamed entirely on the LOC, because some of the visiting delegates did not provide adequate information on their arrival. Take the case of Equatorial Guinea who sneaked into Asaba, then the Ethiopians who landed in Enugu. The Moroccans who were complaining on social media missed their connecting flights to Asaba,” he added.