Chunga hails PSL, SuperSport deal

was long overdue and would enhance the development of local players and help improve the general standards of the game in the country.
This month, the Castle Lager Premiership signed a six-year broadcast rights deal with SuperSport International (Pvt) Ltd in a devel­opment expected to transform the face of the local game.
Under the landmark development, some matches in the domestic top-flight league will be screened live on SuperSport channels throughout sub-Saharan Africa and islands on the Indian Ocean.
SuperSport will also do a magazine pro­gramme for the local matches and interviews with football personalities.
Already the television station, has beamed the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round match between Dynamos and Quelaton on Sunday.
Chunga, who is also a former Warriors captain and assistant coach, believes the com­ing of SuperSport on board should be a turn­ing point for the local league.
“I would like to say congratulations to Twine Phiri and company for successfully negotiating with SuperSport. To me, the com­ing of the broadcaster was long overdue,” said Chunga.
The Zimbabwean league is expected to reap some huge benefits in terms of exposure on the SuperSport mobile and Internet plat­forms. But while hailing the coming of Super­Sport, Chunga is quick to warn the football stakeholders to exercise the highest level of professionalism.
“While we are happy with the coming of SuperSport, I appeal to the coaches and the players to look into the bigger picture for our game. The ugly incidents at our stadiums should be a thing of the past in our football.
“Coaches and players should respect the referees’ decisions even when the decisions might not be in their favour.
“There should be no room for coaches and administrators who incite players to leave the field of play in protest to a decision by the ref­erees,” said Chunga.
Currently, SuperSport broadcast local league football played in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere also weighed in to bless the coming of SuperSport and challenged fellow coaches to be exem­plary.   
“SuperSport is here and the whole world is now watching us,” said Masomere.
This week, PSL chief executive Kenny Nde­bele said the arrival of SuperSport could mean some of the matches would be fixtured on Mondays and Fridays to accommodate all the competitions.
Castle Lager fund the league championship while Mbada Diamonds bankroll the premier knock-out cup and they are indications that the BancABC Sup8r could continue this year.
Chunga will, however, be hoping that his youthful Gunners outfit survive relegation in order for them to reap the rewards that will come from the PSL’s partnership with Super­Sport.
Gunners will travel to fellow strugglers Hardbody at Ascot in a game in which Chunga will be aiming for his first win since his return to head the Chando Kupisa techni­cal bench.
Chunga ended his winless streak when Gunners upstaged Chicken Inn 3-2 in the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Pelandaba in Gwanda last Sunday.
Fixtures
Saturday: Black Mambas v Chicken Inn (Morris Depot), Monoz v Hwange (Rufaro), FC Platinum v CAPS United (Mandava)
Sunday: Dynamos v M/Action (Rufaro), Hardbody v Gun­ners (Ascot), Highlanders v Shabanie (BF), Blue Rangers v Quelaton (Gwanzura), Buffaloes v Harare City (Sakubva)