The Noise Doesn’t Make You a Better Commentator — Sannie Daara Urges Broadcasters to Prioritise Research Over Shouting

CAF Media Officer Ibrahim Sannie Daara has criticised the growing trend of excessive shouting in football commentary, particularly in local language broadcasts, arguing that it often masks a lack of preparation and diminishes the quality of sports journalism.

Speaking in an interview with Kafui Dey, Sannie Daara said football commentators should focus on informing audiences rather than relying on noise and theatrics.

"I think they should take their time. You are communicating. People need to hear and understand what you are saying," he said.

According to him, some commentators have turned shouting into a defining style, but the practice does little to enhance the audience's understanding of the game.

"The thing is that what I discover is that most of the people who rant had not prepared to run the commentary. So they just use noise to cover up," he stated.

Sannie Daara recounted an incident involving a senior Ghanaian journalist who allegedly provided live commentary on a football match without being present at the venue.

"I've seen one senior journalist in Ghana who was given the duty of running commentary of a football match. He was supposed to be at the stadium. The match had started. He was in some bar drinking when the match started, and he started running the commentary from the bar when he was not even seeing the match," he said.

He described such practices as deceptive and unfair to audiences.

"They deceived the public. They should take their time and prepare well for the matches," he added.

Drawing from his experience at recent Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, Sannie Daara said some of the continent's most respected commentators dedicate significant time to research before matches.

"I was on the same bus with a lot of our commentators like Mark Gleeson and some of the others like Daniel Amokachi. They spend hours researching the teams, have notes and notes and notes, colour coding and all that," he said.

He explained that thorough preparation enables commentators to provide valuable information that keeps audiences engaged.

"When they are talking, it is filled with facts and information. People are glued to it. They want to listen to it," he noted.

Sannie Daara urged commentators to focus on providing details about players, clubs and statistics instead of relying on dramatic reactions.

"They are supposed to inform the public. When you have information, you don't need to shout. You just deliver it, and people will enjoy it," he said.

He further argued that popularity gained through excessive shouting is often driven by entertainment value rather than appreciation for professional commentary.

"If you see that you are noisy and people enjoy you, they are only making fun of you or they enjoy the comedy aspect, but they are not enjoying the job you are supposed to do on radio or television," he said.

Sannie Daara concluded by encouraging sports commentators to invest more time in research and preparation, insisting that quality information, rather than volume, is what ultimately earns audience respect and credibility.