Stop the in-fighting, the fans are suffering
The sad part about every spat or scandal that happens in this country – be it in politics or as in this case, sport – the victims are usually the poor who have to bear the brunt of whatever the fall-out is about. Just look at what is happening with the VBS saga. The poor people who had their money invested there – and the taxpayers – are the hardest hit.
It is the same with the unfortunate fall-out between the SABC and Safa – two entities who are supposed to have our best at heart. As it is today – unless a lastminute agreement is entered into – those who do not have access to Pay-TV will not watch Bafana’s important Caf Africa Cup of Na- tions qualifier against Seychelles because the two organisations could not agree on terms for the broadcast rights.
While the spat played out in public as both Safa and the SABC sent out scathing statements on the matter I could not help but think of myself when I was a teenager and the only access to professional football was through the SABC channels and radio stations.
I would steal my mother’s portable radio and go into the garden to listen to live commentary on Saturdays and Sundays. If, on the odd occasion, I happened to have the R50 needed to go to the Ngqulunga family – the only people who had a TV – I would cherish
Sibongiseni Gumbi
the moments.
Things have changed and access to football is much easier now. But there are still people who rely solely on SABC radio stations for commentary and updates on their favourite teams. If it weren’t for the broadcasts from the SABC so many of us would not have such vivid memories of the 1996 triumphs because Pay-TV was not as widespread and easily accessible as it is now.
This is why I hope these two organisations smoke the peace pipe and afford the masses a chance to watch our Bafana. I know people can easily watch on the pay channels but not everyone can afford them. In fact I believe most people still have the SABC as their main source of sport.
This is evidenced by the viewership numbers for local soapies which suggests that those on SABC 1 are the most watched no matter how good the other shows on pay channels are.
In a perfect world there would be no debates about which channels the Bafana games are shown on and it would not even be about how much the SABC pays for them. But, understandably, Safa also have to make some money off these games to keep afloat. At the end of it all however, it is the poor supporters who suffer.
Or maybe it is time we came to understand that such games are an exclusive right for those who can afford to pay for them, and the masses – just like in everything else in the country – should not just grin and bear it.
Let me also take this chance and wish Bafana the best for the match today and on Tuesday. I just want them to know that #ReKaoFela (we are in this together) but if you guys mess this up… no, let me rather not even think that. Bafana cannot and will not disappoint us this time.