SABC Gets Rights to South Africa’s National Team Games

The South Africa Football Association (Safa) have secured a deal with South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) for the public network to air all the national football team’s matches for the next three years.

Details of the deal will be revealed to the public in May once the boards of both associations formally approve the deal, said the Sapa news agency.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng, acting chief operating officer, SABC, said: “For the SABC this is a historic milestone for both parties, as previously we negotiated on a game to game basis.

“Once the contract has been signed, South Africans can rest assured that for the next three years, they will be able to watch the national soccer teams whenever they play home games. The agreement has been structured in a way that all parties, but especially the South African public, wins.

“This agreement will further strengthen the relationship between the SABC and Safa, as it was perceived to be on shaky ground,” he said.

Ensuring the South African public could see the matches free to air was key to the deal, said Mandla Mazibuko, acting president of Safa.

by Ismail Uddin