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Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
THE domestic Premiership will break new ground on Sunday when the Battle of Zimbabwe secures its place in the history books as the first local football match to be broadcast live in the splendour of High Definition on the SuperSport 1HD channel.
While Castle Lager Premiership matches have been covered live on SuperSport 9 since late last year, none of the matches have appeared on the showcase HD channels, with their crystal clear images and crisp audio and surround sound projection, which are usually reserved for the cream of sporting events.
It’s remarkable that the domestic Premiership has been given a slot for its flagship match to be screened in HD, barely a year into its partnership with SuperSport, while the Kenyan Premier League had to wait for six years into its marriage with SuperSport to have one of its games in HD last month.
Multichoice Zimbabwe announced yesterday that the epic showdown between Highlanders and Dynamos at Barbourfields on Sunday will be broadcast in High Definition.
“All of the talk in sporting circles this week is focusing on this Sunday’s game between Highlanders and Dynamos at Barbourfields,” Multichoice said in a statement.
“As well as being one of the most eagerly-anticipated contests of the season, it will also see SuperSport make history as it will be the first time that a Zimbabwean football match will be broadcast in High Definition.
“Viewers on your World Of Champions can watch the game in HD as the drama unfolds between the country’s two biggest teams.
“While SuperSport has broadcast international cricket from Zimbabwe in HD, the ‘Battle of Zimbabwe’ will make a fitting start to HD coverage of football in the country, using the state-of-the-art Outside Broadcast Van.
“The game itself looks too close to call, with top-of-the-table Highlanders looking for a first win over Dynamos since 2007, but playing their best football of the season, with 10 goals in their last three matches.
“Dynamos know that a defeat will end their hopes of defending the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, and they are known as a team that can produce results on the big day.”
PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said Sunday will mark a new chapter, in not only the relationship between his league and SuperSport, but the live coverage of domestic football on television.
“We are very excited about it,” Ndebele told The Herald.
“SuperSport contacted us and requested that we provide them with the logos of the league and the two clubs that will be in action because they want to use them in their coverage on their HD channel.
“We are looking forward to seeing one of our matches being screened in HD alongside the big derbies that are there in the world this weekend and we hope that our game will emerge as one of the best matches to be broadcast live.”
PSL chairman Twine Phiri said this represented another huge leap forward for the domestic Premiership.
“This is another huge statement that shows that our relationship with SuperSport is not only good, but is actually getting stronger,” said Phiri.
“It shows that they appreciate that we have quality football, in our league, which is fit to be shown on their HD channels, it’s a huge boost for us because it’s a vote of confidence in the standards of football in our league.
“For us this represents a big step forward and we are very happy that this has happened and we will have our first game on the HD channels.”
It took the Kenyans six years, after signing their deal with SuperSport, to get their first game on the HD channels when the big match between Gor Mahia and Tusker last month was broadcast live in the splendour of High Definition.
Kenya Premier league chief executive Jack Oguda said having one of their matches screened on a High Definition channel opened a new chapter in the history of their football.
“As KPL we are most delighted that our efforts of administrating a league worthy to be mentioned with the best there is are being recognised,’’ said Oguda.
“Through SuperSport’s drive and commitment to be at the cutting edge of technology, football fans at home and across the continent will now enjoy our beautiful game in the most modern way just like they do the Uefa Champions League, Barclays Premier League and the Spanish La Liga.”
The first High Definition channel on SuperSport was HD 1 which was launched ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China and exclusively broadcast material about the Olympic Games.
But, just after the Olympics, the channel was shut down but the HD sports channels emerged ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and the IRB Rugby World Cup and now the English Premiership have a 24-hour dedicated HD channel, when the league is in season, on SuperSport.
In July this year, MultiChoice introduced High Definition channels for SuperSport 5 and SuperSport 6.
Zimbabwe Premiership Matches on SuperSport Broadcast details
Saturday, October 26
FC Platinum vs. Shabanie Mine
SuperSport Select (2:45pm)
Sunday, October 27
Highlanders vs. Dynamos
SS1HDA, Select (2:45pm).
Online Reporter