Saturday, February 8, 2025

OPINION: Negotiate an improved Supersport deal in 2020

In 2015, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) with former president Kalusha Bwalya and General Secretary George Kasengele at the helm of hierarchy stretched the Super league broadcasting rights deal with Supersport International to 2020, at a meager price of $5 Million.

This dummy of a deal was second to Zimbabwe, who at the time had the cheapest broadcasting rights contract in Africa, with Supersport–sold at $2 Million, for 5 years.

Good thing is that the Premiere Soccer league of Zimbabwe have realised that the deal had flaws, hence resolved against renewing it.

Premiere Soccer league (PSL) Chief Executive Officer Kennedy Ndebele officially released a statement to announce their divorce with the South African Pay TV Channel, last week.

“Following the completion of the 2017 season, the Premiere Soccer league (PSL) and Supersport International (Pty) Ltd have mutually agreed to end the partnership entered into by both parties in 2012,” reads the statement.

SUPER LEAGUE, SUPERSPORT DEAL

As the curtains of the 2019 term shuts downs, obviously the Super league would have been long delinked from FAZ–whoever will be the honcho must negotiate for an improved, from the status of quo deal.

By now we are all aware that, outside South Africa, Supersport Cameras will only be focused on televising the Zambian top tier, having departed in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ghana and with their future in Nigeria being in bleak situation.

For your own information, Zambia’s was half the Kenyan Premier league (KPL) deal that was worthy $10 Million. The Nigeria deal was priced at $34 Million and South Africa has the highest pay grade of about $134 Million.

Apparently, the only reason Supersport is still hovering the streets in Zambia is because they are not digging deep their pockets.

WHY THE RAISE

The Zambian league has over the years grown in leaps and bounds. The quality has certainly improved, coupled with top notch playing fields–in comparison to the time when this running partnership was entered into.

In 2015, Levy Mwanawasa was obviously the only big stadium available for use. There is an additional of the National Heroes Stadium, and not forgetting the refurbished Woodlands Stadium–albeit the owners, City Of Lusaka have been relegated to the second tier.

I am peculiar to know if Supersport would risk loosing their only remnant exclusive rights contract outside South Africa. Pretty sure if they were to chicken out for an improved deal, other kids will be ready to play.

The partnership with Supersport has without any doubt ploughed the fields. Would they allow another broadcaster to come and benefit the fruits of their work?

OTHER KIDS READY TO PLAY

Kwese Sports is at the moment like a dog waiting for the bone to be hurled in front of it. They will not procrastinate to grab the bone, chew it and acquire the iodine.

You don’t need to be a brainier to see that if Kwese were to buy the Zambia Super league TV rights, at an improved price, the competition with Supersport for business in this country would be at par.

The sells of Kwese Sports decoders will raise, hence monthly subscription resurging. Supersport will only have a small cake–a Zambian faction that is obsessed with European football.

So, football house should now begin introspecting in this regard. When the time for negotiations comes, it’s either you offer us an improved deal or we invite other kids to table their bids.

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5 Comments

  1. For sure we don’t want mockery in this country even assistant Supretendant Hua jing huo together with constable Shing Njao and team are waiting for sponsorship.

  2. I wonder why Supersport hv seen it becessary to pull out of Zimbabwe, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya! Or hv they been booted out! I dont think so; the obvious reason is the low standard of soccer in this region. Faz needs Supersport and not vice verca!

  3. Faz need supper sport to promote our league as much as super spot need Faz, to promote their business. Many in Africa have been following Zambian league through supper sport.For example in Kenya, they is Zesco fan club. Zesco Fans based in Kenya. In fact they watch Zambian league closely .we can appreciate kalu and kasengele for that deal.However they is nothing wrong for FAZ to bargain for an improved deal.They should reach mutual agreement and consensus,because both parties need each other.In business you start with small then you keep improving with respect to the value of the product. Same, many are buying gotv,decoders in order to watch our supper league that means money to supper sports , at the same time the value of our league is incleasing attracting investment in football, .hence the need to reach mutual understanding for both parties

  4. Cherish what you already have.suppersport is a southern Africa television sports.south africa is our little brother, we should feel proud to promote their business, just as they should feel proud to televise Zambian league because it’s like theirs.No man is an island. We need one another.suppersport need Faz just as Faz need supper sport. Loyalty is important both in good and bad. Faz should be loyal to supper sports as much as supper sport must be loyal to Faz. Negotiations for an improved deal should take place in a brotherly atmosphere knowing that the other part is as important as the other.

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