Football is the most popular sport in the world but its unpopular when to women seeking to further sports journalism careers reporting on the sport.
For female sports journalists in Kenya, it has remained to be a pipe dream in actively providing coverage to the sport given the resistance that they face in the field.
The female journalists have been faced with restrictions and in some instances faced the wrath or harassment from these teams’ stewards or security when on the line of duty.
Rix a female Nairobi based sports journalist working for an online magazine Sports Eye was barred from a football match entrance due to superstitions about women bringing bad luck.
“So I’ve come for the AFC Leopards vs Muhoroni Match here at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and am being told I cannot use the main entrance because am a “woman” eti “nitaleta mikosi kwa team” (I will bring to the team misfortune) Sad Sad Sad,” said Rix.
This incident shows of the deeply rooted traditions that still permeate the sport with the terrifying whispers of superstition.
The impact of these beliefs is profound, even for the most modern professionals.
A current study demonstrates that in Kenya, the lack of acceptance of female sports journalists is influenced by patriarchal roots within communities.
Participants also expressed that this lack of acceptance is often intertwined with patriarchal and stereotypical structures.
A current study demonstrates that in Kenya, the lack of acceptance of female sports journalists is influenced by patriarchal roots within communities.
Participants also expressed that this lack of acceptance is often intertwined with patriarchal and stereotypical structures.
These deeply rooted tradition has been in existence for decades since the post-independence period of the legendary Kenya’s football great the late Joe Kadenge and trickled to the latest generation footballers is the superstitions that associates women with bringing a bad omen or bad luck to a team.
Kenya’s pioneer and first female journalist said it was a no go zone for women sports scribes intending to cover matches involving either AFC Leopards or Gor Mahia in the mid 70s when she began her journalistic career and in the 80s and 90s when she was in her prime.
“When either AFC Leopards or Gor Mahia was playing I was not allowed to enter the stadium. I am surprised that the practice of restricting female journalists from providing coverage is still on and in this century,” she wondered.
According to a research conducted by this online regional football blog Soccer East Africa, the participants reported that in most cases, footballers, fans, coaches rarely agree to be interviewed by women.
“For instance, when covering a football match, soon after the match or during halftime, footballers go to the restrictive locker room.
“As a female floor manager in sports, it has become challenging for me to arrange interviews since accessing the locker room is difficult for women,” said Rebecca Maria.
This lack of support from sources and fans not only hampers the quality of their reporting but also perpetuates a cycle of dependence on established male journalists, exacerbating the already existing disparities in sports journalism.
Not only in entering the locker room, but Maria also added that there is significant gatekeeping within the industry that keeps female sports journalists in Kenya reliant on their male colleagues.
“If men do not accompany you, you will find it challenging to obtain the story. This reliance on male companionship creates a dependency that, in my opinion, needs to be addressed,” said Maximilla Wafula of County News.
The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) president James Waindi said they will engage football clubs media officers on the matter to see how the female journalists can be accommodated in the soccer ecosystem.
“Through the media officers we shall want to have a session with the club officials and their security teams so that we can raise awareness and agree on ways of accepting and supporting the women journalists to provide coverage of football smoothly just like their male counterparts, ” he said.
Waindi said the matter is very sensitive which needs to be approached with caution when trying to break the barriers and the stereotypes associated with women in football.
Ahead of the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), some teams courted controversy by allegedly saying they don’t want female fans attending because they’ll bring bad luck.
A local South African newspaper cited an AFCON organizer who said that teams from Ghana, Congo, Mali and Niger complained. The organizer said the teams believe women bring bad luck.
