Blackout of SA national teams on SABC stays

Safa, broadcaster fail to make a deal

The SA Football Association (Safa) and the SABC confirmed that the Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana respective matches against Nigeria this coming weekend will not be broadcast on the national broadcaster’s platforms after the latest negotiations reached a deadlock. Bafana take on the Super Eagles on Saturday, while Banyana’s Women’s Afcon opening match is on Sunday against the West Africans. “The SABC and Safa have reached a deadlock in their (latest) negotiations on the coverage of the home matches for Bafana Bafana Afcon qualifier matches‚” said SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu. Safa acting chief executive Russell Paul revealed that the two parties met two weeks ago in a fresh bid to look at ways to work with each other for future Bafana home matches but nothing came off the meeting.

“We have discussed with the SABC opportunities and possibilities of how we can work with each other on a game-bygame arrangement but still they have declined‚” said Paul. Kickoff for the Bafana match is at 3pm on Saturday on two pay-TV SuperSport channels SS4 and SS10. Banyana play their Nigerian counterparts a day later in the port city of Cape Coast (5.15pm).

Bafana and Banyana will both square off against Nigeria‚ their biggest rivals on the continent‚ this weekend in crucial Afcon contests which carry different weights respectively.

The annual Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup versus Paraguay on Tuesday‚ in honour of the revered former statesman at Durban Moses Mabhida Stadium‚ will also not be televised live on SABC platforms.

‘‘ SABC and Safa have reached a deadlock in negotiations on coverage...