Will we get SuperSport deal?

number of hurdles still need to be scaled amid fears that simmering boardroom battles could scuttle the deal.
Although SuperSport International’s budget for next year has already been done, and does not include sponsorship of the domestic Premiership, there is a huge commitment on the part of the television group to tie a deal with the local top-flight league.

That package could include the engagement of sponsors, who will underwrite the production costs of the games, and an aggressive marketing strategy would have to be developed to boost the sale of Multichoice Dstv decoders in this country to justify the investment.
SuperSport International, who control the market outside South Africa, are happy with the trial run that has been done using the league and cup matches featuring Dynamos and Motor Action and are committed to going into bed with the domestic Premiership.

But it’s also getting increasingly clear that the excitement, generated by the possibility of a deal being struck before the start of the 2012 Castle Lager Premiership season, could be rather too optimistic, although certainly not an impossible dream. Gary Rathbone, the Head of Africa, SuperSport International, had not responded, by late yesterday, to questions sent by this newspaper to give an update on the progress in the negotiations they have been holding with their Zimbabwean partners.

However, sharp boardroom differences emerging in the Zimbabwean camp could scuttle the deal.
Malawian football consultant, Felix Sapao, is unhappy that he is now being pushed into the background by the Premier Soccer League leaders, when he played a big role in bringing the SuperSport team to Zimbabwe.
Sapao feels betrayed by the PSL leaders, given the role he played, working in tandem with his Zimbabwean partner Odwell Simunyu, when they facilitated Rathbone’s visit to this country last year.

The Malawian agent was unhappy that he was virtually ignored by the PSL leaders, during his recent visit to Zimbabwe where he hoped to discuss the SuperSport deal.
Sapao has since advised SuperSport International that he feels he is now being given a raw deal by his Zimbabwean PSL partners and, crucially, Rathbone sympathises with the Malawian and concedes that he has been a key player in the whole process.

“I must say, I am disappointed in the ZPSL’s (Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League’s) attitude to you as you were indeed instrumental in getting this whole process going,” Rathbone e-mailed Sapao.
“Still, if you have managed to come to an agreement with them (regarding) a parting of ways, I trust it will be an amicable one.”
Sapao claimed, in his communication with Rathbone, that he found it suspicious that the PSL leaders were now avoiding him when he had played a central role in bringing SuperSport International to Zimbabwe.

“Funny enough during my stay in Zimbabwe two weeks ago, the guys from the PSL I was dealing with, (Twine Phiri and Cuthbert Chitima), were avoiding me,” said Sapao, who said he was advised that they no longer wanted him in the deal.
“So I have informed Gary (Rathbone) and he is quite disappointed with the action itself.

“But it seems Twine wasn’t happy with me sending the email (the truth hurts at times). It really pains me to see that as a consultant, these guys are resolving to use me like a condom.
“But anyway, I have asked the PSL to pay me for, the introduction and commencement of the talks with SuperSport (30% in advance) and the balance of 70% would be paid whenever there would be a deal signed.

“Otherwise they have been informed what specified action I will take. Business is business and I gave them 30 days to pay me by the 18th of December.”
Sapao is claiming US$105 000 as consultancy fees, with 30 percent of that amount, US$31 500, needed to be paid before December 18.
He said his calculation on his consultancy fees was based on the traditional deals struck by SuperSport International in African leagues, ranging between US$3 million to US$5 million, and he had used the least possible package, of US$3 million, to work with.

Surprisingly, only a few weeks ago, Sapao had appeared bubbly and confident that everything was under control and a SuperSport deal was imminent.
“I do hope now people in Zimbabwe football will appreciate work that I initiated by opening talks with Supersport Africa and the PSL,” he wrote in correspondence with this newspaper.
“Talks still continue but the two games (league and cup featuring Dynamos and Motor Action) were requested by Twine as a continuation of the talks because they had stalled for sometime.

“Gary Rathbone had still insisted that the deal is still on by just needed patience.
“They now have to check the impact of the test run and the final on the 27th.

“One thing that needs to be handled with care is the stadium advertising as football, not stadium owners, should be the final winner. Hope something can be agreed on that.”
Sapao also clarified that ZBC would have to be brought in as a partner in the event that a deal is struck with SuperSport International.

“One thing I noted is that there has been talk of excluding ZBC in the deal as the PSL have other ideas,” said Sapao.
“One thing I know for sure is Supersport would like to work with ZBC as their FTA Local Partner.”