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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE two Mbada Diamonds Cup semi-final matches set for the weekend at Mandava and the giant National Sports Stadium will not be beamed live on television, a blow to the millions of soccer fans across the country who will not be able to travel to the venues.
Highlanders square off with the season’s surprise packages Harare City at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane tomorrow while giant slayers How Mine travel to the capital to meet former ‘Cup Kings’ Caps United on Sunday. Premier Soccer League board of governors president Twine Phiri confirmed that the matches would not be beamed live by both the national broadcaster and SuperSport.
Phiri, who is also the Caps United president, said there was no reason for the television blackout.
Chronicle Sport was told by inside sources that there was a disagreement between the sponsors and broadcasters as SuperSport wanted the matches to be double headers. Screening one match, they felt, would be too expensive.
“We are not going to have any television coverage for the two matches, that’s all. There is no reason whatsoever except that which I have just told you,” said Phiri.
Earlier this week, this publication revealed that the league and the sponsors of the cup, Mbada Diamonds, were headed for a collision after reports that SuperSport, who have the television rights to the PSL games, had said it would be difficult for them to beam the two matches live due to their travelling policy that forbids them from travelling at night.
SuperSport could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Online Reporter