By Rex Mphisa
SPORTS journalists in Matabeleland South have alleged discrimination by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) which has rejected their applications for accreditation.
The journalists said this was the second year running their applications were thrown out by the body which runs he country’s top flight football league.
“We prefer journalists from areas where our league activity is. We accredit journalists from those towns because they are close to the stadiums we use,” a PSL official Rodwell Thawe said.
He was responding to questions from Ziyah News Network.
“Who referred you to me, or do you represent those journalists? Who are they? We deal with case by case and do you want me to refer them to you in the event they call,” he rained the reporter with questions.
When told it was a story the reporter picked from the province he said some cases would be dealt with on their own merit.
“We have journalists from community radio stations and newspapers whose cases will be looked at differently but the truth is if we have 10 slots for Matabeleland we are likely to give nine to Bulawayo where we have activity.
He said as regards the recently launched inclusive Munhumutapa Cup to be played by teams even from inferior leagues the reporters will cover that as a different scenario.
“Those running those Cups will accredit journalists the way they like and as PSL we will do it in our way,” said Thawe.
The Munhumutapa Cup was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa famous for his mantra not leaving anyone or place behind in national development agendas.
Reporters from community radio stations, private newspapers and other media outlets feel short -changed by the PSL.
They alleged the body had its preferred media but overlooked media organisations have a different audience and were also slanted towards grassroots soccer.
“How does anyone say the slots are full when Zimbabwe has so many journalists accredited by the Zimbabwe Media Commission? And its only a fraction of those who constitute sports journalists. How is grassroots soccer promoted when audiences in rural areas are denied real time coverage,” a senior reporter from a private media organisation said.
“We have obviously been remembered by President Mnangagwa and shunned by the PSL. They have preferred outlets they accredit en-masse,” said the reporter.
In sharp contrast to Thawe’s claim, PSL did not accredit Beitbridge reporters when Border Strikers was in the premier league in 2016.
A reporter from the border town was turned away from the PSL offices near Pennywise Shopping Centre in Harare when he sought registration to cover matches.
“Most PSL teams have had dates with Beitbridge in pre-season camping and that there was not premiership teams activity in Beitbridge is far fetched and uninformed,” he said.