Sports / Soccer
Zimbabwean soccer to be televised in South Africa
08 Aug 2013 at 14:13hrs | Views
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is set for a bigger audience following Supersport's decision to introduce its Supersport 9 channel to DStv subscribers in South Africa. On Tuesday, DStv subscribers in South Africa began watching Supersport 9 which was only available to viewers in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Kenya.
The development by the pay-per-view television station is likely to open new avenues for the Zimbabwean league, its clubs and players.
In their statement, Supersport said it anticipates viewership to increase.
"Supersport will soon be gaining more viewers as it enhances and extends its channel offering to more DStv customers. As of Tuesday, 6 August, Supersport 9 will be added on channel 209 on DStv and feature a variety of American-based sports previously carried on the ESPN channel, which discontinued its broadcasting to Africa on 31 July. These include live college basketball and football and boxing. Supersport 9 is also home for live EFC fight nights and brings action from the various domestic soccer leagues across the African continent to South African viewers," reads their statement.
The Castle Lager Premiership clinched a five-year deal with Supersport that will see 60 matches broadcast on the pay-per-view station this season. To date, Supersport has screened 24 league matches and six cup games.
It is estimated that at least two million Zimbabweans are based in South Africa and expectations are high that they will welcome the move to watch their teams back at home in action. Besides the multitude of Zimbabweans in South Africa who will follow the domestic game, it will be easy for Absa Premier Soccer League clubs that have developed a liking for Zimbabwean players to monitor their targets.
Almost every year Zimbabwean players cross Limpopo River in search of greener pastures in the Absa Premiership.
Some of the notable players that have moved to South Africa lately include former Soccer Stars Washington Arubi (University of Pretoria), Ramson Zhuwawo (Amazulu) and Bidvest Wits' Denver Mukamba.
The 2012 Castle Lager Premiership Top Goal Scorer Roderick Mutuma joined Bloemfontein Celtics at the beginning of the year.
Other Zimbabwean players enjoying a good spell in South Africa are Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat.
Having the Castle Lager Premiership matches beamed in South Africa is also likely to inspire players to improve their game with the hope of attracting interest from South African clubs.
Chicken Inn's trio of Tendai Ndoro, Mkhokheli Dube and Kudakwashe Mahachi have just returned from trial stints in South Africa. Besides clubs selling their players to South Africa, they can also benefit by attracting technical sponsors like Nike, Adidas, Puma or Kappa whose products are familiar to locals.
Even corporate sponsors will want to get deals with clubs as they are aware that they stand to reach a bigger audience following the decision to screen Castle Lager Premiership matches in South Africa and other parts of Africa.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer welcomed the development and urged clubs to utilise the opportunity to market themselves.
"Since the PSL is the flagship of Zimbabwean football, we are happy that local football as a product will now be consumed by a big audience. This is an opportunity for us to make the world understand our football and we are pleased with the partnership we are having with Supersport.
"The good thing is that clubs can now connect with their supporters who are in South Africa and we hope that this move will open more fruitful avenues for our clubs," said Ndebele.
The Castle Lager Premiership enjoys a good relationship with Supersport and in May, the head of Supersport Africa, Andrea Venter, said the ball was in PSL's court to have more matches screened.
"Supersport is delighted to be part of the reawakening of one of the giants of football.
"As it is we have invested in an OB Van (outside broadcasting van) which will be coming soon to Zimbabwe in a few weeks time and this will open more horizons for sport in this country," said Venter then.
Besides soccer, Supersport has also been involved in screening international cricket in Zimbabwe. The broadcasting of soccer matches is going to financially boost clubs' coffers in future as they are set to benefit from the sale of TV rights.
The development by the pay-per-view television station is likely to open new avenues for the Zimbabwean league, its clubs and players.
In their statement, Supersport said it anticipates viewership to increase.
"Supersport will soon be gaining more viewers as it enhances and extends its channel offering to more DStv customers. As of Tuesday, 6 August, Supersport 9 will be added on channel 209 on DStv and feature a variety of American-based sports previously carried on the ESPN channel, which discontinued its broadcasting to Africa on 31 July. These include live college basketball and football and boxing. Supersport 9 is also home for live EFC fight nights and brings action from the various domestic soccer leagues across the African continent to South African viewers," reads their statement.
The Castle Lager Premiership clinched a five-year deal with Supersport that will see 60 matches broadcast on the pay-per-view station this season. To date, Supersport has screened 24 league matches and six cup games.
It is estimated that at least two million Zimbabweans are based in South Africa and expectations are high that they will welcome the move to watch their teams back at home in action. Besides the multitude of Zimbabweans in South Africa who will follow the domestic game, it will be easy for Absa Premier Soccer League clubs that have developed a liking for Zimbabwean players to monitor their targets.
Almost every year Zimbabwean players cross Limpopo River in search of greener pastures in the Absa Premiership.
Some of the notable players that have moved to South Africa lately include former Soccer Stars Washington Arubi (University of Pretoria), Ramson Zhuwawo (Amazulu) and Bidvest Wits' Denver Mukamba.
The 2012 Castle Lager Premiership Top Goal Scorer Roderick Mutuma joined Bloemfontein Celtics at the beginning of the year.
Other Zimbabwean players enjoying a good spell in South Africa are Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat.
Having the Castle Lager Premiership matches beamed in South Africa is also likely to inspire players to improve their game with the hope of attracting interest from South African clubs.
Chicken Inn's trio of Tendai Ndoro, Mkhokheli Dube and Kudakwashe Mahachi have just returned from trial stints in South Africa. Besides clubs selling their players to South Africa, they can also benefit by attracting technical sponsors like Nike, Adidas, Puma or Kappa whose products are familiar to locals.
Even corporate sponsors will want to get deals with clubs as they are aware that they stand to reach a bigger audience following the decision to screen Castle Lager Premiership matches in South Africa and other parts of Africa.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer welcomed the development and urged clubs to utilise the opportunity to market themselves.
"Since the PSL is the flagship of Zimbabwean football, we are happy that local football as a product will now be consumed by a big audience. This is an opportunity for us to make the world understand our football and we are pleased with the partnership we are having with Supersport.
"The good thing is that clubs can now connect with their supporters who are in South Africa and we hope that this move will open more fruitful avenues for our clubs," said Ndebele.
The Castle Lager Premiership enjoys a good relationship with Supersport and in May, the head of Supersport Africa, Andrea Venter, said the ball was in PSL's court to have more matches screened.
"Supersport is delighted to be part of the reawakening of one of the giants of football.
"As it is we have invested in an OB Van (outside broadcasting van) which will be coming soon to Zimbabwe in a few weeks time and this will open more horizons for sport in this country," said Venter then.
Besides soccer, Supersport has also been involved in screening international cricket in Zimbabwe. The broadcasting of soccer matches is going to financially boost clubs' coffers in future as they are set to benefit from the sale of TV rights.
Source - chronicle
