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ANCYL back PSL-SuperSport deal
25/06/2007 14:51 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The ANC Youth League and the Young Communist League have expressed their support for the Premier Soccer League-SuperSport television rights deal.
"It is a reasonable deal that will benefit soccer, the players and clubs for the improvement of the game," ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg on Monday.
Mbalula and YCL secretary-general Buti Manamela had met the PSL management to discuss the television rights deal.
The youth leaders accused the SABC of using its broadcasting platform to spread propaganda that soccer lovers would not be able to watch matches on television as a result of the deal.
"We've been assured that football development will be taken into account and that millions of South Africans will still have access to football," said Manamela.
"More soccer games would be showed on television than in the past."
He said the SABC took advantage of its status as a public broadcaster and closed doors to others.
"If it claims to be representing the people, it should have done particular things better," said Manamela.
Concerned parties
The PSL announced two weeks ago that SuperSport had been awarded a R1bn contract to broadcast PSL soccer matches for the next five years.
The SABC board, the Congress of SA Trade Unions and Sport and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile and other concerned parties called on the broadcaster's management and PSL to meet and resolve the issue.
A meeting was scheduled for Monday.
Mbalula told reporters that people should not be misled in believing that they had lost their right to watch soccer on television.
"What is lost is the incompetence of leaders at the SABC to negotiate a deal for the development of soccer."
He said the SABC did not care about the development of soccer, but only about the Siyanqoba campaign - an SABC initiative to popularise Bafana Bafana matches.
Negotiate
"They go around doing like K-CI and Jojo... singing on stage rather than the improvement of our soccer."
The youth leaders urged SABC management to negotiate free to air television rights.
"We appeal to the SABC to be sober, mature and stop being big headed and arrogant," Manamela said.
The PSL had told the youth leaders that the radio broadcast rights issue would be taken to the soccer clubs for discussion.
"We were assured that people who listen to the radio would continue to hear their soccer (matches)," said Manamela.
They condemned the "expulsion" of Metro FM presenter Robert Marawa, saying SABC boss Dali Mpofu deserved the boot.
"In the name of God, Dali Mpofu should just go," said Manamela.
He said centralisation of power did not only exist in politics, but also at the Auckland Park headquarters of the SABC.
Door closed
Most of the problems at the SABC, including the soccer rights issue, had been coming from Mpofu's office.
"If there is any person that should have the door closed behind his back, it is Dali Mpofu."
Mbalula described the Marawa issue as appalling.
"It is a classic example of the SABC's incompetent management style."
Marawa was reportedly sacked for inviting a representative from SuperSport and PSL on his show to explain the deal.
On Friday, the SABC refuted reports that Marawa was suspended.
"I would like to clarify that Robert has not been fired from Metro FM contrary to some media reports and that we are looking forward to resolving this matter as soon as possible," said SABC general manager of commercial radio, Bob Mabena, in a statement on Friday.
Back at work
Mabena said that Marawa was in fact suspended last week on Monday as a result of a broadcast that breached the editorial codes of the SABC.
SABC spokesperson Kaiser Kganyago echoed Mabena's words on Monday.
However, he could not say when Marawa would be back at work.
"(He would be back) when we are finished with all the matters we want to discuss with him."
Kganyago said the public broadcaster would not comment on the ANCYL and YCL accusations.
"Right now we are in a meeting with the PSL to resolve the issue, and we hope that it will yield positive results."
- SAPA
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