No accreditation for journalists

Category: Sports Published on Thursday, 24 January 2013 06:00 Written by Orkula Shaagee, Nelspruit

Scores of media practitioners covering the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations here are without accreditation tags, as the organizers have closed the exercise for those who were not able to complete their accreditation application online.

It was hectic getting accreditation here, as several trips to the media centre were like heitting one’s head against the brick wall, as those in charge say the exercise has been closed.

Our reporter covering the three weeks soccer fiesta reports that even those who completed their registration formalities online, but did not receive confirmation from the CAF media channel, were equally denied accreditation at the media centre.

Daily Trust gathered here from the few accredited journalists that only about 225 journalists, comprising photo journalists and camera men were officially accredited by Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) to cover the fiesta.

Frustrated by the development, a sport editor of one of Nigeria’s leading media houses, who was in Nelspruit for the tournament, left South Africa yesterday to return home, saying “I cannot remain here without accreditation”.