adminSpeaking at a joint Castle Lager Premiership and SuperSport press briefing in the capital yesterday, SuperSport Operations Manager, Graeme Murray, said they are excited and deeply committed and will this season flight a minimum of 40 matches spread across 20 weekends.
“SuperSport is delighted, to have entered into a five-year partnership, details which would be released later in April,” said Murray.
“We are deeply committed and have invested heavily in the continent, in the growth of sport in Africa, facilities and sponsorship. Here lies an exciting league, so it makes so much sense to invest. You have a rich history of football and a well supported league by the fans.
“Zimbabwe is a sleeping giant with a great potential. SuperSport is delighted to be part of the re-awakening of one of the giants of football.
“We would like to see Zimbabwean football tower alongside other African giants of the game whose football enjoys continental coverage on the World of Champions.”
He said they were also investing in human resources.
“We are investing in skilling and up skilling the talent that already exists in the country. Partnership makes sense for a good business, that should be well positioned and well administered,” said Murray.
“SuperSport has also invested in an outside broadcast truck which will be based in Zimbabwe to ensure seamless coverage of the league.
“The van currently accommodates eight cameras but has the capability to add more for major broadcasts such as the big derbies and Cup finals.”
SuperSport says their entry into Zimbabwe demonstrates the continued investment into the country by Multichoice, and starting this season, SuperSport 9 channel, where the matches would be screened, will also be available on the family bouquet, making the league more accessible to more people.
This Easter weekend four matches would be screened on television.
Speaking at the same function. Delta Beverages’ spokesperson, Patricia Murambinda, said their main objective this season was to capture football fans and entice them to come watch live games through promotional activities.
“Fans play an integral role in the game. They inspire and drive the players to perform They create and influence the stadium atmosphere,” said Murambinda.
“They support the clubs financially through gate takings and purchase of replica kits. And in our case they are the consumers of the Castle Lager.
“This season, we give them the respect and recognition that they deserve. We will have match day super fans. At every Castle PSL match, a super fan is selected by the home team officials, Castle PSL representative and a Delta representative.
“Prizes to be given will include – branded merchandise and match tickets for the next home game.
“In also an effort to increase excitement this year around the PSL games, we will be hosting, after big matches, ‘After Parties’ at a local pub. People will get to meet and chat with their favourite players and other football personalities,” said Murambinda.
PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, said the league fathers were happy with their partnership with Delta Beverages despite concerns from some clubs.
“We disassociate ourselves from the individual statements that are not only unprofessional, myopic and likely to put the name of the sponsors into disrepute,” he said.
Ndebele also spoke on relegation of four teams and said they were lobbying for fewer teams to be axed.
“We would like to welcome Black Rhinos, How Mine, Triangle and Tripple B to the top-flight. The promotion of the four clubs means, we are now spreading our top-flight to
Beitbridge and the Lowveld and Tripple B would be using Dulibadzimu and Triangle would be using Gibo Stadium.
“The stadia were inspected and approved yesterday.
“It is a pity that four teams will be relegated at the end of the season. We believe the ideal situation is to relegate two teams at the end of each and every season. This will bring stability to the league.
“We will continue to lobby for the relegation of two teams per season. At the moment 25 percent of the league clubs are relegated every year so you will find that in three years about half of the league would have been relegated and more training and capacity building would be required.
“As a league, we would like to continue with capacity building and development of football. We have already conducted a high level coaching course for all the 16 teams.
“The Zimbabwe Sports Medicine Committee facilitated a course for team doctors and physiotherapists and we hope to have more courses during the season,” said Ndebele.
Ndebele also warned the club coaches and captains who refuse to attend pre-match or post match press conferences that they would be fined US$500.
Online Reporter