Reporters drilled in cricket coverage
SEBONGILE MATHE
MASERU – Local sports reporters attended a two-day cricket instruction aimed at familiarising them with the nuances of covering the sport. The workshop, organised by the Lesotho Cricket Association (LCA), took place in Maseru from Monday to Tuesday this week. The workshop emphasized the importance of leadership, friendship, teamwork, and unity.
LCA’s Office Clerk, Motsieloa Teleki, emphasized how cricket transcends boundaries, bringing together people from various nationalities, cultures, and religions.
He also said cricket fosters connections that extend beyond the cricket field, especially when played in the spirit of the game.
“Cricket provides a unique platform for developing essential life skills,” said Teleki. “Beyond the excitement of the game itself, it encourages leadership, foster strong relationships and connects individuals from different nationalities, cultures and religions.”
Teleki further emphasized the importance of respect in cricket, saying that the game requires players to respect captains, teammates, opponents and umpires.
This, he urged, is the foundation upon which good teamwork, leadership skills and unity are built. Furthermore, Teleki said cricket brings together people of different nationalities and religions, fostering respect and strong friendships through shared experiences in games and tournaments. As he spoke about the spirit of cricket, a lively discussion ensued among the attendees.
Many shared their favorite moments from watching cricket on television, highlighting how the game demonstrates love, patience, respect and integrity. One of the participants, Reitumetse Mabaleha, articulated a compelling observation regarding the respect afforded to umpires in the sport of cricket.
“Unlike in other sports where players occasionally disrespect umpires’ decisions or resort to insults, cricketers exhibit a remarkable level of respect, from the players on the field to the spectators in the stands. There is a pervasive sense of discipline and sportsmanship,” said Mabaleha.
“It’s a sport that one can genuinely appreciate and enjoy, whether watching or playing.” In addition to promoting the spirit of cricket, the workshop provided the reporters with training on cricket reporting. Sessions covered the layout and dimensions of a cricket pitch and explained common cricket terminology to improve the accuracy and clarity of the reporting.
Reporters, including both novice and seasoned journalists, actively participated in the talks on dismissal procedures, bowling, batting and fielding fundamentals led by LCA’s Development Officer, Atanase Mohapi.
In cricket, bowling is the act of delivering the ball towards the batsman at the other end of the pitch. The goal of bowling is to dismiss the batsman, either by hitting the three wooden stumps, or getting the batsman out in other ways, while batting is the act of trying to hit the ball bowled by the bawler. Then batsman uses a bat to hit the ball and has to protect stumps from being hit by the ball.
The workshop encompassed a comprehensive range of topics, including pitch dimensions and the principles of umpiring. Mohapi facilitated the session by illustrating the methodology for interpreting cricket scores, which involved engaging the reporters in a miniature cricket match.
This hands-on activity provided an opportunity for reporters to apply their newly acquired knowledge, helping them understand and appreciate the factors that make a cricket match what it is.
Approximately 18 local reporters attended the workshop.
