SuperSport to screen more PSL games

Sport
SUPERSPORT — The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) broadcast partner — will screen more games this season compared to last year’s 53.

SUPERSPORT — The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) broadcast partner — will screen more games this season compared to last year’s 53.

WELLINGTON TONI SPORTS EDITOR

Max Tshunungwa, the SuperSport executive producer for Africa, told a media networking gathering in Harare yesterday that there was a lot of potential in the local league, which kicks off at the weekend of March 29 to 30 and their aim is to assist in its growth.

“We did 53 matches last year and we want to beat that this season and we will deliver all matches on HD (High Definition) including the big matches. We will have a dedicated magazine show that will also look at club profiles, the chairman’s corner and other things to do with the players, the reviews and the previews, he said.

“You must understand that we are just a year old in Zimbabwe, we are growing, but there is a lot of potential here.

“There will be games in December, where we will screen the Mbada Diamonds Cup final at the end of the season and we are happy about that because most of the guys come back home and want to see the games and we are grateful for the PSL for that.”

PSL chief executive Kennedy Ndebele also confirmed during the gathering that the league will end on December 20.

“There will be 240 matches that will be played. There is the Independence Trophy that we have to slot in next month and three cups, meaning there will be more midweek games. We also have to consider the fact that the Warriors will be playing in the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifiers and that means five dedicated weeks for the national team if they progress,” he said.

Ndebele said they will be engaging local authorities to provide the necessary infrastructure for the coverage of matches. Last season, SuperSport covered games as far as Hwange, Gibbo in Chiredzi and Mandava in Zvishavane, in addition to traditional venues-Rufaro, National Sports Stadium, Barbourfields and Luveve Stadiums. Tshunungwa, who was accompanied by SuperSport media expert Itu Lesego Senne, said local clubs should embrace the culture of midweek games and some matches under floodlights.

“The challenge that we have is clubs are afraid they might not realise the full potential of gate takings when it comes to midweek matches and games under floodlights,” he said.

“But to us, these are the early stages in the league, there is so much potential going forward.”

Senne said her organisation was also involved in the strengthening of human capacity. “We have partnerships with the Wits Business School (South Africa) and Strathmore University (Kenya) for sports administration courses and there more people will be attending these courses this year,” she said.

Last year, Chicken Inn secretary-general Tawengwa Hara, Monomotapa chairman Joseph Mukoki, PSL marketing manager Rodwell Thabe and competitions manager Elisha Mandireva attended an administration course in Kenya.

Yesterday’s function was also attended by the MultiChoice Zimbabwe trio of Dave Emberton, PR and publicity officer Liz Dziva and marketing manager Gerald Ngonyamo and various media houses from across the country.