From the Sidelines: Attention: Barry and Tim

BY the time Mr Tim Isaacs reads this, Mr Barry Rukoro might have told him what my response is to the article I wrote earlier in the week about sport reporters accused of writing negatively about the Brave Warriors when in camp.

Firstly, it is pleasing to know that both Mr Rukoro, now the chief executive officer of the Namibia Football Association (NFA), and his employee, team manager Tim Isaacs, acknowledge that the Brave Warriors are “a national team”. I am also delighted by the fact that both came out strongly on how they perceive my reporting towards the Brave Warriors.Rukoro said I am being deliberate in my reporting because I want the national team to lose.Heaven knows how I am trying to do that.Isaacs says sports reporters have a tendency of writing negatively about the team while in camp, which can easily have a bad influence on the mood and morale of the team.I agree that negative reports can be destructive to especially the players when bad stories are written about them.But this week, it was a question of football administrators answering questions on the bonuses and contracts of the players.Well, in my opinion, it is a big deal for players to know where they stand regarding their pay since some of them complained to me, “as a reporter”, to investigate these matters.I thought players had written contracts in place, but after asking that, it emerged that they only sign a piece of paper for their allowances and appearance fees.There is no standing document outlining contract conditions, especially pertaining to their medical condition.The information I wanted was not for me to keep, but it is a concern to the taxpayers because they too need to know if there are contracts in place for the players like in any football set-up around the world.They have the right to know since the players are their children and the national team belongs to everyone in this country, provided you pay tax.That is why we refer to the Brave Warriors as “our team.I am not hiding behind the pretext of paying tax or the nation, but the bottom line is, football administrators have a duty to play open cards with the human assets they manage and who are doing duty for the country.This national team does not belong to Mr Rukoro or Mr Isaacs or the NFA and players have the right to seek advice, solutions and answers to pertinent issues such as bonuses and contracts that concern them.Football is their bread and butter and if the reporters do not seek information and inform both the players and the nation, who will? Nothing wrong with the association entering into contracts with the players, but if players think they do not get a better deal, why not ask? I receive calls from players who complain about a lot of wrongs in the national team set-up and I would fail if I didn’t take up some of these issues with the authorities.The reason why I call the football bosses is to get the facts, or their side of the story, instead of writing what I am told by the players or what I suspect is happening.I thought Mr Rukoro, as the chief of football and who has travelled the world, knew that the media simply seek to get the real story before going to print with one side of it.Mr Isaacs, I know that you are concerned about your players, but it would be advisable to put things in order to avoid players asking questions or complaining to the media about their bonuses and contracts.I know the NFA is not a moneymaking business and cannot pay fat bonuses to players, but to address simple issues professionally and playing open cards will lessen any negative reporting.I am also delighted by the fact that both came out strongly on how they perceive my reporting towards the Brave Warriors.Rukoro said I am being deliberate in my reporting because I want the national team to lose.Heaven knows how I am trying to do that.Isaacs says sports reporters have a tendency of writing negatively about the team while in camp, which can easily have a bad influence on the mood and morale of the team.I agree that negative reports can be destructive to especially the players when bad stories are written about them.But this week, it was a question of football administrators answering questions on the bonuses and contracts of the players.Well, in my opinion, it is a big deal for players to know where they stand regarding their pay since some of them complained to me, “as a reporter”, to investigate these matters.I thought players had written contracts in place, but after asking that, it emerged that they only sign a piece of paper for their allowances and appearance fees.There is no standing document outlining contract conditions, especially pertaining to their medical condition.The information I wanted was not for me to keep, but it is a concern to the taxpayers because they too need to know if there are contracts in place for the players like in any football set-up around the world.They have the right to know since the players are their children and the national team belongs to everyone in this country, provided you pay tax.That is why we refer to the Brave Warriors as “our team.I am not hiding behind the pretext of paying tax or the nation, but the bottom line is, football administrators have a duty to play open cards with the human assets they manage and who are doing duty for the country.This national team does not belong to Mr Rukoro or Mr Isaacs or the NFA and players have the right to seek advice, solutions and answers to pertinent issues such as bonuses and contracts that concern them.Football is their bread and butter and if the reporters do not seek information and inform both the players and the nation, who will? Nothing wrong with the association entering into contracts with the players, but if players think they do not get a better deal, why not ask? I receive calls from players who complain about a lot of wrongs in the national team set-up and I would fail if I didn’t take up some of these issues with the authorities.The reason why I call the football bosses is to get the facts, or their side of the story, instead of writing what I am told by the players or what I suspect is happening.I thought Mr Rukoro, as the chief of football and who has travelled the world, knew that the media simply seek to get the real story before going to print with one side of it.Mr Isaacs, I know that you are concerned about your players, but it would be advisable to put things in order to avoid players asking questions or complaining to the media about their bonuses and contracts.I know the NFA is not a moneymaking business and cannot pay fat bonuses to players, but to address simple issues professionally and playing open cards will lessen any negative reporting.