Participants hail historic CAF Media Seminar

12 December 2014 04:14

The first ever CAF media managers seminar ended at the CAF Centre of Excellence in Mbankomo, Cameroon with chairman of the CAF Media Committee Anjorin Moucharaf calling for hard work and application of key communication tools that would further uplift the continent’s game while delegates hailed the occasion as enlightening and hugely successful.

The seminar, held from 8^th through 11^th December 2014, highlighted the significance of the work of media officers in national associations, introduced delegates to CAF’s new Internet portal, trained them on content management of pages dedicated to member associations on CAF’s website and discussed the impact of social media as well as basic reporting tools and the importance of effective communication in national associations.

 

Moucharafou tasked the Media Officers to apply the lessons learnt during the seminar to enhance their federation and African football in general. He underscored CAF president Issa Hayatou’s commitment to supporting media officer’s work and taking African football to even greater heights.

He stressed the media’s pivotal role in the modern game and the need for all media officers to be abreast with modern trends in communication, in particular social media, in the discharge of their duties.

Resource persons included Hans Hultman, Senior Media Operations Manager, FIFA; Clementine Girard of Digital Media and Marketing Manager, Lagardere Unlimited; Gerard Dreyfus, veteran journalist amongst others.

Media Officers from 34 National Associations took part in the four-day event.

 

Below are remarks from selected participants after the course;

Nkweto Tembwe (Football Association of Zambia)

Thanks to CAF for the good initiative. We have formed synergies and will continue getting in touch. We are the touch-bearers of information for our various federations. This seminar has really helped me to know the impact of social media and its benefits.

 

Frederick Mngomezulu (Swaziland Football Association)

We need to applaud CAF for this seminar and are looking forward to having more of such platforms. It served as an opportunity to review and address challenges related to the discharge of our duties.

 

Gomezgani Zakazaka (Football Association of Malawi)

It’s the first time am in West Africa and in such a forum and it has been an eye-opener for me. The sharing of ideas and exchanges of experiences has helped me learn a lot.

Shafi’I Mohyaddin Abokar (Somalia Football Association)

Thanks to CAF for organising such a meeting, the first we are doing this as media officers. It gave an opportunity to make new friends, network and enhance interest in my work.

Kaba Emmanuel (Congo Brazaville Football Federation)

Thanks to CAF for organizing this seminar. What we did here is very important and it will rejuvenate us as we go back to our federations.

 

Fayssoile Moussa (Comoros Football Federation)

We’ve all had nice moments in the time we spent together here at Mbankomo. We have created a network and solidarity is already at work and very happy about that and the success of this CAF initiative.

 

Nathalie Rabe/Mirado Rakotoharimalala (Madagascar Football Federation)

The days we have spent here have been fantastic. We want to show you Madagascar dance so you’re all welcome to Madagascar. We hope to have permanent exchanges with all of you in the future to help us in the discharge of our duties.

 

 

Gabriel Daniel Arop (South Sudan Football Association)

I learnt a lot from this course and it has been hugely beneficial personally and for my people in South sudan. Now I want to go back and work even harder for the people so that the rest of the continent and world can know what is happening in South Sudan

 

Abubakarr Kamara (Sierra Leone Football Association)

It has been a pleasure to be here. The sessions were very interactive and I’m particularly happy that I can now coordinate with about 40 of my colleagues in the same work. CAF should keep engaging us one way or the other to implement what we have learnt. Commendations to the facilitators and all colleagues for wonderful sessions.

 

Ademola Olajire (Nigeria Football Association)

Capacity enhancing programmes are always wonderful. It is massive to have had this seminar because normally we always hear of referees and coaches, but this one was excellent. I’m taking a lot of lessons back home and thank my colleagues and CAF for this initiative.

 

Mouandjo Jean Jacques (Cameroon Football Federation)

The seminar has been an occasion for all of us to share and network. The time here encouraged us to remain on the right track and have a standard to follow. It was an opportunity to meet people, some of whom I have only spoken on the phone. I commend the organizers and I hope that we will relay what we have learnt to other colleagues.

 

Wondimkun Alayou (Ethiopia Football Association)

We commend CAF for the seminar. It has helped expand our horizons and embrace new ideas and innovations in media management. Thank you to all the colleagues who shared experiences. We return to our homes to work even harder.

 

Adel Hadji (Algeria Football Federation)

It has been a pleasure to meet all of you and learn from each other. We all have benefitted a lot and just wish everyone well from the future champions of Africa.

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