A sports conversation recently took place with a photojournalist on the understanding of sports in Kenya was as surprising as it was telling.
To the deserved journalist, sports representation by the media, at least in Kenya, is a peripheral phenomenon because the most significant 'juicy' news items that capture center stage, ("the headlines" in the words of the journalist) are unpredictable.
Sports news never attracts the prime time slots unless there are no political, horrific events or 'presidential' news as my journalist alleged.
While spectacular sports events occur once in a while, the investigative and incisive lens necessary to evaluate discourse on sports industry affairs is lacking.
The big questions are: what is the training background of my journalist friend? Are sports stories penned by journalists with relevant academic training in sports, sports journalism, sports management or journalists whose passion is sports or received apprenticeship in sports?
Kenyan universities and training institutes train students in many different fields which include Mass Communication, Journalism, etc.
Other categories of professional training include Sports Management, Sports Science, Physical Education, and Education.
Some of the above courses combine information technology as an added advantage. The inclusion of computing as an addition to the individual course does not qualify one to be an expert in matters of ICT.
On the other hand, a one-semester course unit in relation to writing on sports, almost automatically make a journalist become an expert in matters of sports.
The irony is what constitutes sports skills and knowledge? Why are sports journalists untrained in sports practice sports journalism? What makes sports such a promiscuous sector or industry? Why is the sports sector the most abused in terms of academic qualification, the professional requirement?
Why does the government allow or appoint every Tom, Dick, and Harry to manage sports organizations without the necessary professional and academic qualifications? Does the government have any standards expected of those who serve in the Ministry of Sport, Culture, and Arts?
What criteria is used to appoint Cabinet Secretaries, Permanent Secretaries, Sports Directors? What are the highest qualifications for one to possess to be shortlisted as CS, PS?
Does the government consider sports a business? Are sports considered as a source of foreign exchange? In terms of Fiscal and Monetary Policies; to what extent are sports critical in the generation of employment and enhancement of public finance?
Scholars of sports economics elsewhere in the world have documented and developed models with their economies and changed the models of sports provisions away from the social services a practice still prevalent in developing countries.
The progression of athletic talents development from the youthful levels (10-15 years) to the emergence of elite centers at universities to serve the professional sports industry.
Most developed countries have advanced the quality and transformed sports development. Many of these economies have their sports industry as the first line of employment and developed a first class quality education advancement through sports scholarships and research.
Sports education has become a critical component of promotion of health and wellness.
An economy whose human resources are engaged in recreational sports and wellness to provide among their employees with recreational centers and gymnasia as a paid service enhance increased productivity and a better performing workforce.
The industrial output is increased by efficiency and reduced sick leave and absenteeism. The journey of an athlete from High School to professional clubs is unknown in Kenya. Recruitment, selection, and drafting to professional teams are uncharted.
The number of athletics clubs, football teams, Basketball, Hockey, Cricket, Rugby are unrevealed. The demographics of sportspersons remain a mystery in sports federations.
Player salary statistics are untold. Whether the salaries are uniform across sports organizations or federations is a serious management challenge in Kenya's sports industry.
The motivation for knowing player salaries is significant in the tailoring of sports talent toward the right sports. It provides a mechanism for deciding on player values, transfer payments, coaching salaries.
All these significant factors are hidden from the public domain. The other interesting element of understanding player valuation is the agency.
The role of agents [player and coaching] in contract agreement is as foreign as the examples we know of foreigners who manage Kenya's athletes. The Ministry of Sports and the National Assembly require a serious legislative framework to bring out the best way to organize sports in Kenya.