Sports
Wike’s $40,000 promise will come after second leg- Green
After their 2-1 victory over African champions, Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca, Morocco, in the first leg of their CAF Champions League tie on Sunday, Rivers United are planning to storm the North African country tomorrow. This, according to the team, is to help the players acclamitise in the North African country ahead of the decisive leg.
But the team’s plan of early departure to Morocco still depends on availability of space in the various airlines the state government has approached.
Against all expectations, Rivers United came from a goal down to beat African champions, Wydad Casablanca, 2-1, at the Adokie Amiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt to put one leg in the group stage of the money-spinning CAF Champions League.
Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Chris Green, told The Guardian, yesterday, they started the process of their early departure to Morocco even before the first leg in Port Harcourt.
“We want to go to Morocco early for the players to settle down ahead of the return leg on Sunday, October 16. The problem we are having is the issue of space in the airline. If we get a green light tomorrow (today), the team will leave immediately,” he stated.
Speaking further, Chris Green, a former chairman, Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said: “Nobody gave Rivers United the chance of beating the defending champions. Many Nigerians thought Wydad would overrun our boys so easily. That mentality by some Nigerian football fans is very bad.
“We thank God for seeing us through in the first leg and I am sure the same God will give us victory in Morocco on Sunday.” On Governor Nyesom Wike’s promise of $40,000 for each player of Rivers United, Green said: “The players will get the money if they win the ticket to the group stage. It means they have to beat Wydad on Sunday.”
Sports
SWAN President Calls for Gender-Fair Reporting in Sports Journalism
By Joel Ajayi
The President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Isaiah Kemje Benjamin, has urged sports journalists to eliminate gender stereotypes and bias in their reports to promote fairness, inclusion and greater visibility for women in sports.
Benjamin made the call on Monday in Abuja while delivering a presentation titled “Gender-Sensitive Journalism: Removing Gender Stereotypes and Bias in Sports Reporting” at the Annual Women in Sports Leadership Training/Seminar for Journalists, organised by the Women Commission of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
He said sports journalists play a critical role in shaping public opinion, influencing athletes’ visibility and determining which achievements receive recognition, sponsorship and investment.
According to him, the way the media reports women in sports can either reinforce existing barriers or help dismantle them.
Benjamin explained that gender-sensitive journalism requires fairness, accuracy, equality and inclusion, stressing that it does not mean giving female athletes favourable coverage or shielding them from legitimate criticism.
He identified common forms of bias in sports reporting, including giving men’s competitions greater prominence, focusing on female athletes’ appearance rather than performance, defining women by their marital or family status, and questioning their competence in leadership positions.
The SWAN president urged journalists to adopt respectful language, apply consistent professional standards and extend coverage beyond national teams to domestic leagues, grassroots competitions, female coaches, referees and sports administrators.
Using Nigeria’s sporting landscape as an example, he said the achievements of the Super Falcons deserved sustained analysis beyond match results, including discussions on investment, player development, professional leagues and grassroots structures.
He also noted that digital platforms offered opportunities to expand coverage of women’s sports but warned journalists against sensationalism, online harassment and sexist commentary.
Benjamin proposed seven measures, including gender-sensitive editorial guidelines, regular coverage audits, diversified sources, professional development, stronger grassroots reporting and measurable progress.
He called on SWAN to collaborate with the NOC, sports federations, leagues and clubs to improve access to information and strengthen women’s visibility in sports.
He urged journalists to ensure that athletes are judged by their performances and achievements rather than gender stereotypes.
“Gender-sensitive journalism must be fair, not favourable,” he said, emphasising that responsibility for change rests with reporters, editors, broadcasters, photographers and digital publishers.
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