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AIPS boss backs regional body

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Regional members cheer up to the new East and Central Africa Sports Journalists body. Photo by Abdu Wasike.

By Andrew Mwanguhya

Posted Friday, December 7 2012 at 00:00

In Summary

Ugandans take presidency and publicity secretary roles, Rwanda the vice and Kenya secretary general as the East and Central Africa Sports Journalists Association takes shape.

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International Sports Press Association (AIPS) president Gianni Merlo believes the baby that is the East and Central Africa Sports Journalists Association (ECASJA) is just the right chord struck.

The inaugural regional body idea was mooted by Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) in an attempt to bring together the sports scribes in the constituency.

More than 30 regional and local scribes here for the Cecafa Tusker Challenge Cup met on Wednesday at Nob View Hotel and agreed to form an interim committee that will oversee the revival of dormant national sports associations and the eventual operationalizing of the ECASJA.

Only Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi can talk of sound national associations with Kenya’s gone long into limbo. Merlo, the AIPS boss, spoke with the journalists via teleconference and welcomed the undertaking.

“I’m happy with the step you have taken and AIPS will give you all the necessary support,” said Merlo.

“We need to defend our rights, to fight for our independence, to save the sports the big danger of corruption and match fixing.

“I hope to see some of you after our Congress in April and I hope also one day to come personally to Kampala to meet all of you personally.” Merlo added: “I hope in the next few years sports journalists in Africa can show the whole world that sports journalism in Africa is at a high level.”

Uspa president Mark Namanya said the regional body would go a long way in improving a working relationship between the sports scribes.

Uspa founding member Fred Sekitto was steadfast that this was the only way to making sports journalism stronger.

ECASJA Interim Board
President: Mark Namanya (Uganda)
Vice president: Bonnie Mugabe (Rwanda)
General secretary: Mike Okinyi (Kenya)
Vice general secretary: Desire Hatungimana (Burundi)
Treasurer: Abdul Mohammed (Tanzania)
Publicity secretary: Patrick Kanyomozi (Uganda)
Organising secretary: Fred Maingi (Kenya)
Secretary women affairs: Somoe Ng’itu (Tanzania)