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SWAZIBANK CUP FINAL ON SUPERSPORT

27/03/2018 07:17:00 BY ASHMOND NZIMA

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MBABANE – Local football will now be in the spotlight abroad as there are more lined-up live broadcasts on pay-per-view channel SuperSport.

Following the successful live screening of Sunday’s Ingwenyama Cup final between Mbabane Swallows and Royal Leopard at Somhlolo National Stadium, this publication has learnt about plans to televise more matches. This is set to begin with the SwaziBank Cup final. The prestigious tournament is currently at a quarter-final stage.

The quarter-final games featuring Mbabane Highlanders, Manzini Wanderers, Royal Leopard, Green Mamba, Matsapha United, Manzini Sundowns, Malanti Chiefs and holders Young Buffaloes, are set to be played next weekend, with the final set to take centre stage before the end of April.

Some visiting members of the SuperSport crew, including Swaziland’s very own William ‘Coot Cat’ Shongwe, who is a top analyst on the ‘World of Champions’, have confirmed the bid to screen more games in the country. Reports suggest that on top of the SwaziBank Cup decider, 10 more high-profile Premier League of Swaziland (PLS) games could be broadcast live by SuperSport in the 2018/19 season.
The past Sunday’s broadcast was facilitated by the PLS in a deal that reportedly cost over E500 000.

“We are hoping we can show more games of this nature to a point where it would be much cheaper for the PLS. Say the next Cup final and 10 top league games for next season” Shongwe told the Times Sports Desk.
PLS Chairman Mark Carmichael confirmed the plan to screen more games, as he felt the country deserved to be ‘up there with the big boys’.

“The screening of the Ingwenyama Cup was not a once-off thing. We are weighing our options.
“It needs more planning and mitigation. We need to involve everyone, including clubs, as there are financial implications. We need to come up with a policy in order for everyone to know how they will benefit,” said the astute football administrator and businessman.