ENLIGHTENED WEEKEND AT THE MEDIA SEMINAR

The seminar which was hosted by the Brunei FA with the support of FIFA and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) saw around 20 attendees from almost all Asean countries.

The two-day course was conducted by Jorge Baptista, a FIFA Media Officer and where he covered a variety of subjects from ‘Media and Events’ to Communication Strategy’ and from ‘Crisis Management at Member Associations’ to ‘Media Organisation for an Event.’

“The seminar has given me a better insight into what being a media officer is all about and I must say that I’m much wiser after these two days,” said Tep Phany, the media officer for the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC).

Added Mai Thanh Huyen from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF): “the course has allowed us to assess what we have done thus far and what we need to do to bring it in line to what is being done at the FIFA level.”

Baptista, who is a former journalist and who has been with the international body for several years, said that it is important that the participants realized the work which is being done by FIFA.

“What FIFA practice is fair to everyone and although I don’t expect the participants to implement everything which has been taught at this seminar in their own federations, they should at least tailor what has been taught here to suit local conditions,” added Baptista.

Dato’ Paul Mony Samuel, the honorary secretary of the AFF, added that the participants should use what they have learned at the seminar to expand their horizon.

“The participants must realize that this is a very rare course and that they are the fortunate few since it is being held for the first time in this part of the world,” added Dato’ Paul.

“They should use what they have learned to improve the situation in their own federations. I hope that they will be more pro-active from now on and that they do not let what they have learned over these two days to waste. They have to use the knowledge.”