by Tendai Madinah, Zimbabwe, January 1997
THEME = SPORT
Most soccer fans rely on radio broadcasts to keep them informed of how their favourite soccer teams are doing. But what happens when there is a ban on broadcasting matches?
Jackson Sithole has been living in the remote district of Chipinge for the past ten years. When it comes to talking about soccer - especially his team, Dynamos, he knows who is not on form and who should replace that particular player. All, thanks to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation's (ZBC) live soccer broadcasts.
NPSL Secretary General Chris Sibanda said that the ZBC had received more than Z$500,000 since 1994 and gave nothing to the NPSL. Yet the League is supposed to get more than the ZBC.
Sibanda is sympathetic to the effects the broadcast ban is having on fans living in outlying areas. They are innocent victims caught in the crossfire. He says: "I feel sorry for the poor folk in the rural areas who depend on radio, to know how their favourite teams are playing. But there will be no live broadcast of our matches until our problem with the ZBC is solved".
There are also only two daily papers, The Herald and The Chronicle and these don't usually reach the rural areas. When they do, they have doubled in price so only a few people like civil servants, teachers and nurses, can afford them.
"This is a war in which we won't lose", says one ZBC television Senior Sports reporter. Even though only live radio and television broadcasts were banned, the ZBC stopped even announcing the results of soccer matches.
Mugabe said that his association had no intention of banning ZBC's coverage of lower division matches under ZIFA's jurisdiction. He pointed out, however, that it is inscribed in the World Football Association (FIFA) statutes that such clubs were entitled to receive something from the broadcasting rights.
Article 48 of the FIFA statutes, stipulates that: "FIFA, its member associations, confederations and clubs, own the exclusive rights to broadcasts and transmission of events coming under their respective jurisdictions, via any audio and sound broadcasting media whatsoever, whether live, repeats or as excerpts.
This did not move the NPSL. Sibanda made it clear that he cannot watch helplessly as his clubs, the majority of whom are facing financial difficulties, have to pay percentages of their gate fees to City Councils, Sports Commissions, ZIFA, the Police and referees, and in the end receive nothing. He says: "My players are living like squatters in the high density suburbs, while some people are making a lot of money out of them. I cannot allow that. Soccer is now big business and the time of exploiting local footballers is over.
END