The fourth estate in sport should take courses in sporting disciplines so that they have better perspective of the news beat, Zimbabwe National Boxing and Wrestling Control Board (ZNBWCB) secretary – general Lawrence Zimbudzana said.
Speaking as a guest of honour on Tuesday at the Zimbabwe Sports Media Awards hosted by Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe,( SWAZ), Zimbudzana urged sports journalists to put value to an event for it to be saleable to corporate sponsors.
“Sport is a critical tool to address social vices like drug abuse in youths and early child marriages”, he said.” Sport can teach life skills to the youth and general populace so journalists are tasked with such aim to make sport more valuable more than the academics”, he added.
SWAZ vice-chairperson Farai Machamire thanked the sponsors for making the event possible.
SWAZ chairperson Goodwill Zunidza chronicled the history of the organization from its formation in the then Rhodesia.’ SWAZ was formed in November 1957 ”, he said. He said the event is held to honour and respect sports media personalities in the journalism industry.
“ In the last editon, 6 awards were given for print, electronic, online etcetera and in this edition we have decided to specialize in specific sporting disciplines with categories ike rugby, football, netball etcetera”, he added.
Six journalists walked away with $100USD and a food hamper. Fungai Muderere with B- Metro scoped the cricket award, Tinashe Kusema with Sunday Mail took the rugby award, Takudzwa Chitsiga with The Herald won the golf award, Veronica Gwaze with Sunday Mail collected the netball award and Ronald Chiwanza lifted the football award. Their food hampers were donated by Tanganda Tea. Blessing Malingaiza wth H-Metro clinched the Female Sports Journalist of the Year Award and her hamper big was donated by Farai Wacho’s.
The award winning journalists were in a jopvial mood as it came at th opportune time when families are celebrating the festive.
This year’s sponsors were Elephant signs,Zimbabwe Golf Association, Zimbabwe Cricket, Perfect Design,Farai Wacho’s, Mawere Plaza Generasl Dealers and Tanganda Tea.
Sports Recreation Commission had its representative and Zimbabwe Golf Association’s Tirivashe Nheweyembwa graced the occasion.
News Sport Online 