THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) said it will file an application to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) to spare them from load-shedding during night matches.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
This season the league will introduce night matches following a six-year broadcast deal entered into with SuperSport International last year.
However, the country’s perennial load-shedding has posed a major threat to the night games.
The pay-per-view channel will broadcast 60 live matches this season.
PSL chief executive officer Kenny Ndebele said night matches should not be taken as unique in Zimbabwean football.
“We are going to apply to Zesa so that they will not cut electricity during night games. Communication is the most important thing in this case. Personally I have worked with Zesa during Cosafa matches and we hope the cordial relationship will continue,” said Ndebele.
Only three stadiums — Rufaro, Barbourfields and National Sports Stadium — have the capacity to host evening games.
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Meanwhile, SuperSport will parcel out US$400 000 for this season with each club getting a net of US$19 000 in two installments this month and in July.
A 15% sum goes to the negotiating agent and 5% is for the PSL administration fee and US$5 400 goes to the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe while US$9 003 is transmedia fees.
Each club received US$5 899 from last season’s US$136 000 amount.
Uganda Premier League’s SuperSport deal is worth about US$1 million a year while Zambia’s package is about US$800 000.
The SuperSport deal was hotly debated at last week’s annual general meeting with clubs demanding that the contract be made public.
The PSL will meet for a special general meeting next weekend where the 2013 budget season will be unveiled.
Last season’s budget was peg-ged at US$1 287 178.
