adminhistoric first ever Premier Soccer League match broadcast live on DStv’s Supersport pitting Dynamos and Motor Action yesterday afternoon.
Fans hailed the development, pregnant with hopes this would turn a new leaf for local soccer and earn local players international moves.
Nelson Kugedera, an airtime vendor who briefly abandoned his business to follow the action at Uptown Night Club, said he believed the deal would change the complexion of the game.
“I did not think the fans would warm to the broadcast. It is a pity many of the bars here did not have packages with the channel leaving many fans to throng those with the channel.
“It is my hope the deal will sail through with local soccer reaping the rewards through international moves for our players and the television rights.
“My next hope would be to see my teams – FC Platinum and Masvingo United – live on DStv.
“This is really historic and must be supported to its full implementation,” said Kugedera.
He hailed the local football authorities for patiently negotiating the deal considering the first attempt of highlights collapsed a few years ago.
“This will turn a new leaf . . . actually a new leaf has been turned and it is refreshing to see local soccer on DStv and I know Zimbabweans abroad watched the match as well,” said Kugedera.
DStv agents in the city also reported a marked increase in demand for packages with SuperSport 9 and 10, which carried the signal of the match.
Charles Chibotso of Zoomsat said several potential customers made enquiries while a few snapped up the remaining decoders with the packages.
“We could have lost business but the few decoders we sold are good enough. All we now pray for is the deal to succeed for us to realise more business.
“By the time it is all sealed we will be ready to do business and we will definitely take advantage of the business opportunity,” said Chibotso.
The Dynamos-Motor Action league match carried on a test run was the first ever PSL broadcast on DSTV’s SuperSport with the high profile Zimbabwe-Brazil friendly last year the one of the few events broadcast by the international channel together with cricket matches.
Failure before has been blamed on lack of equipment and foryesterday’s match equipment had to be brought into the country from Zambia.
The next match to be broadcast on the channel will be the Mbada Diamonds Cup final on November 27 at Rufaro.
Online Reporter