Oh how ESPN viewers’ habits and interests have changed.
In 2008 FC Indiana had two South African players, Lena Mosebo and Veronica Phewa, on its roster. Both were members of South Africa WNT and close friends of Eudy Simelane, 31, who was murdered by five men on April 27th, 2008 in Kwatema, east of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Within 2 or 3 days after Eudy’s murder I noticed sadness in Lena’s and Veronica’s faces and a change in their behavior. After talking with both I learned about Eudy’s murder and about Veronica’s very close friendship with Eudy.
It was a sad moment for me.
As a small club we decided to do whatever small thing we can to honor Lena and Veronica’s friends memory.
We notified Indianapolis as well as national soccer media.
Indianapolis media had no interest in this story. Then, even LGBT media ignored it.
At that time only chicagolandsoccernews.com even bothered to mention anything regarding this tragic news. Here is the link: http://www.chicagolandsoccernews.com/article.php?article_id=4278
In May 2008 ESPN could not care less about this tragic story. Why?
According to ESPN, they were “a sports network and their viewers would have no interest in this story.”
I understand, the World Cup was still 24 months away.
Two years on, just one month before the World Cup, ESPN had a documentary analyzing this tragedy. Draw your own conclusion.
