Supersport deal divides Zim soccer league

Premier Soccer LeagueA total of US$400 000 is set to be shared by the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as proceeds from the Supersport deal that has been renewed for the forthcoming 2013 season.

According to a report produced during the PSL AGM held yesterday the league will receive US$200 000 before the season kicks off with the other batch being disbursed later in August.

The deal states that there will be a 7 percent per annum escalation rate with 66 games set to be screened while teams are expected to play their games from Wednesday through to Sunday.

Sources at the meeting revealed that the South African pay-per-view sport channel had expressed a desire to attend the indaba but were discouraged from doing so after the PSL leadership feared there could be a heated argument among clubs over the whole deal which they feel has been shrouded in secrecy since its inception last year.

"Super Sport want a detailed program on the fixtures, dates, venues and times when the teams will be playing which has not been done yet by the PSL," a source told The Sunday Mail.

"They also want post and pre-match interviews with only the coaches, not the assistant or any other official.

"They have also stated that the coaches have to be dressed in a manner that reciprocates the image of the club including the entire technical bench itself.
 
"There has to be a corporate reflection of the club," the source said.

With international football feeding off media rights SuperSport is also said to have made input on the thorny issue of touchline advertising and asked the parties concerned to follow the sport television's procedure.

However, while the sponsorship deal is a positive move for the local game money awarded to the PSL will also depend on the increase in number of people subscribing to the DSTV viewership.

"If the subscriptions increase then the PSL will able to go and negotiate for an increase in the amount of money," said the source.

Figures released at yesterday's meeting show that SuperSport last year poured into the local league US$136 000 with the total amount going to the 16 clubs coffers adding to US$94 397. Each club then walked away with US$5 899, 81.

The negotiator of the deal got away with 15% amounting to US$20 400 while Transmedia's fees totaled US$9 003.

The Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe received $5 400 with the PSL administration fees totaling US$6 800.

While the dates of the commencing of the 2013 football season are yet to be announced sources confirm that the official launch of the SuperSport deal is set for this month.

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele however could not confirm the dates of the beginning of the season citing a few issues still to be put in place.

"At the moment there is the Nestle Charity Shield coming up but the dates of the beginning of the season will be released after we have tied up some loose ends. We are also anticipating the final list of registered players from clubs by the 25th of this month. Otherwise at the moment clubs can overhaul their line ups," he said.

Ndebele added that they will appeal to Zifa to review the recently announced raft of levies which are clearly a burden to the clubs and their players.

"Clubs unanimously agreed that this is unsustainable and we have to negotiate with Zifa because most clubs made losses and are struggling financially," he said.

Source - SM