SuperSport’s grand arrival on the Zimbabwean soil this week was simply historic.
Report by Henry Mhara The giant subscription television network announced its presence on Thursday night at a glamorous function held at the National Sports Stadium.
The event marked a five-year marriage between the renowned broadcasters and the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).
At the launch, SuperSport had their broadcast of the programme Soccer Africa for the first time out of their Johannesburg studios in over eleven years. It was also the first time that the popular soccer programme had a live audience in the studio.
According to the deal, SuperSport has acquired rights to broadcast league and cup matches on two of their channels, SuperSport 9 and 10 from next year until 2017.
However, as a sweetener, SuperSport has agreed to broadcast five of the remaining league and cup matches starting with the Mbada Diamonds Cup tie between Dynamos and Quelaton at Rufaro Stadium tomorrow. PSL and SuperSport both refused to give away the financial details involved, only saying the marriage would “definitely” change the complexion of local football.
SuperSport executive producer Max Tshunungwa said: “This deal is a milestone for us and the PSL. It has been long time coming and it is something that we are immensely proud of. The Zimbabwe league is undoubtedly one of the exciting, very competitive and well-supported leagues. As SuperSport, we are happy and proud that we are now part of it.”
Tshunungwa said it would take a while before people could begin to realise the real benefits of the deal.
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“We have to be realistic, Rome was not built in one day, but one thing that I can definitely guarantee is in the next five years I will be standing proud of what has happened here today.”
With SuperSport involvement, there will be a remarkable difference in the way the PSL is run.
“The monthly grants that the clubs will get are going to be huge and remarkable. This is a direct benefit for the clubs and hopefully that benefit will trickle down to the players who are the real stakeholders in this deal.”
PSL chairman Twine Phiri was equally elated.
“I’m glad that we have finally managed to bring SuperSport aboard. I hope we will protect and manage this marriage well. Every Zimbabwean should help protect it as it will benefit the clubs, the fans, the children and even the grannies in the rural areas.”
Celebrated SuperSport presenter Thomas Mlambo said: “More games on televisions means that it’s an opportunity for Zimbabwe players to be showcased around the continent. It means more injection of money and hopefully it will trickle down to improving the lives of players, coaches and administrators.”
He added: “But most important, SuperSport is not just bringing television, it will bring training to the cameramen, the production people and the presenters so there is also creation of jobs.
“We also train administrators, sending them to the Bidvest Business School where they learn more on how to administer the game at a higher and better level so it’s a great deal all round for Zimbabwe football.”
“The quality of the players is here. You look at who is scoring goals every week in South Africa and nine out of 10 is a Zimbabwean player. Now with an ability of a very stable league and a televised league, the sky is the limit for Zimbabwe football.”
