BFA close in on SuperSport deal... but RP saga still sticky

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Monday January 21, 2013 00:00

 

A high-powered Botswana delegation, including BFA president, Tebogo Sebego and Premier League Chief Executive Officer, Bernard Mamelodi, met SuperSport's top officials, and made headway on the deal. However, the RP Productions saga remains a stumbling block, according to the broadcaster.

The two parties dismissed the speculated P12 million deal, saying the meetings majorly addressed the nitty gritties of the deal. SuperSport's head of acquisitions and legal, Brandon Foot sounded overly positive about the outcome of the meetings, saying good foundations were laid for the future. 'We had a very good meeting with the Botswana people, it was constructive and very honest. It was good to meet the people we have only been talking to on the phone and by email face to face. We have got a very good foundation for the future,' Foot said. He added the upshot of the discussion was that they would continue talking. 'Our discussions will be on going. Nothing concrete in terms of finalising anything yet, but as I said we laid some good foundation, we will keep on talking on an on going basis.'

He confirmed that the RP issue was still a major concern for them. Foot denied that any figures were agreed upon.'It's absolutely not true, no agreement was concluded at all but as I said it was very constructive and very positive. We will continue talking to one another,' Foot said. Premier League chief, Mamelodi, will brief the board tomorrow evening. On the same day, the board is expected to announce the dates for the resumption of the league. When contacted yesterday, Mamelodi sounded positive about the deal. 'We had progressive meetings and the discussions are still on going. We met with different people with different responsibilities at SuperSport. But obviously people need to understand I have to brief my principals first before I say much in the media,' said Mamelodi.

Indications though are that the deal will come into effect during the second round of the season should the RP issue be put to bed and will see games being broadcast midweek. SuperSport already have several leagues being broadcast on weekends and will do midweek games for Botswana. The domestic Premiership stands to reap massive benefits, in terms of exposure, from being broadcast on SuperSport International's mobile and Internet platforms.

Foot has previously said there is tremendous potential in Botswana football and they would be excited to be part of the journey into a future that looks very bright. SuperSport now broadcasts local league football played in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The most recent is the Zimbabwe Premiership deal which is at par with the one SuperSport International signed with the Uganda Premier League, whose entire package is worth about US$1 million (P7,980,845) a year. SuperSport International pumps about US$800 000 (P6,384,676) a year, into the Zambian Super Division.

The top-flight leagues in Kenya, Zambia and Uganda have all witnessed a huge increase, in corporate partners coming on board, after tying broadcast rights deals with SuperSport International. The pay-per-view television channel foots the costs related to production in Zimbabwe.