Venue Press Officers learn ropes as AFCON gathers momentum
With slightly over two months left before the entire continent congregates in Egypt for the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019, the organization in the host country is gathering momentum with a workshop organized for the Venue Press Officers (VPOs) and their deputies at the CAF Headquarters in Cairo on Tuesday.
All the six venues; Cairo International Stadium, 30th June and Al Salaam in Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez will each have one press officer and a deputy whose core business will be to ensure smooth media operations for what is expected to be the biggest Africa Cup of Nations in history, both in size and media presence.
“This will be a big tournament and we want to ensure we have a fantastic media operation which will ensure comfort for both local and international press. This is our baby we are going to inaugurate and maintain the standard like a World Cup,” Nathalie Rabe, the CAF Director of Communications said as she opened up the one-day workshop.
The 12 participants were put through the various media requirements and regulations that are going to assist a smooth relation between the press and organizers as well as ensure the tournament gets the best coverage with high end convenience accorded to the press.
They were also familiarized with all the six venues, the CAF media requirements aligned to the standards set by FIFA as well as operational procedures prescribed for a tournament of such magnitude.
Adel Koraiem who will be the Press Officer at the Cairo International Stadium said he is excited to see what the tournament has to offer especially with an expansion to 24 teams and the tournament moved from the traditional January date to the summer.
“It is good for the competition especially to see some new teams like Madagascar and Mauritania. Also, it will be interesting to see how a 24-team Africa Cup of Nations will look like but I am glad it is coming to Egypt because we have hosted bigger events and I think we have the capacity. For the media, we will strive to ensure that we make their work as comfortable as possible without lowering the professionalism,” Koraeim said.
Ahmed Sabry, an experienced Egyptian journalist living and working in Italy as a correspondent to Onsport TV will be handling a tournament for the first time acting as the Deputy Press Officer in Suez.
He expects a heightened media presence especially noting most European leagues will be on break.
“There were a lot of doubts with the tournament being held in the summer but I am certain this will be a great success. More media personnel from all over the world will mean more visibility for the tournament and African players, and who knows, this might open up a chance for more African players to move abroad,” Sabry said.
He added; “I have covered major tournaments worldwide but this will be my first time working in one and I am excited to use my expertise to help grow the game in the continent.”