The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh to name the journalists who demanded money from him for reports.
Oliseh had through a YouTube broadcast on February 7 made several unsavoury comments, including allegations against the media.
He had alleged that some Nigerian journalists requested for money from him to enable them write favourable reports for him.
Oliseh had, in the broadcast tagged “Insane Critics’’, accused football stakeholders of unnecessarily and unreasonably criticising him.
He also claimed that sportswriters were demanding money for positive stories over the failure of his team at the just-concluded Championship of African Nations (CHAN).
But in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its Secretary-General, Andrew Abah, SWAN said the demand was in line with its quest to ensure continuous sanity in the profession.
It quoted Abah as saying whoever was mentioned by Oliseh would be properly investigated and sanctioned if found culpable.
SWAN however noted that it had become a culture for most people in the sports circle to blame journalists for their failure.
“If the coach fails to name anybody, SWAN as a body will use any means available to it to seek redress.
“This has become imperative, considering the recent bashing the sports writers have been receiving from sports stakeholders, especially the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and its employees.
“Henceforth, SWAN will no longer fold its arms and watch people blame their misfortunes on the Association.
“We have, as major stakeholders, contributed positively to the development of sports in the country.
“We will no longer tolerate people dragging SWAN in the mud of their maladministration and technical ineptitude,’’ the statement quoted Abah as saying.
Oliseh’s allegation against the media was coming just six weeks to Nigeria’s crucial 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Egypt scheduled for Kaduna and Cairo.
Egypt is currently leading the Group with six points from two matches, while Nigeria is second on four points.
