Deal done: Beta TV, Super League of Malawi sign agreement for live matches
At long last, Malawians will start watching Super League games live on television following Thursday’s signing ceremony between Sulom and Beta Television, who are the official broadcaster for the forthcoming three seasons.
The signing ceremony, which was graced by Sulom officials, Beta Television officials and the sponsors of the league TNM took place at WineHouse in Blantyre.
In his speech, Sulom President Innocent Bottoman described the signing ceremony as big day for Malawi football.
Bottoman said he was delighted, calling it Malawi Football Revolution began.
“As a country we are sitting at number 133 on the FIFA ranking which is a worst position for our football. There is need for emergency steps to be taken in order for our football fortunes to be overturned. One of the important steps to bring Malawi football especially Top flight football to acceptable levels is the introduction of Live Television broadcasting of the Malawi game,” he said.
He said:“ The Investment into the league, the exposure of our talent and the visibility of our league through live television coverage will enable us to reach levels of football that has not been reached in this country before.
“Television Broadcasting comes with it benefits and international standards that will strengthen our discipline and professionalism to the game.”
Bottoman also said he was happy with this development because SULOM has demonstrated to be a serious, mature, transparent and accountable organisation focused on driving growth of Malawi Football.
“We set our journey into unchartered waters full of fear of the unknown but only with belief to do good for the Malawi Game.When everyone else stood and laughed that an open tender system to choose a credible broadcaster was not possible, today we have proved a point. We have identified a broadcaster who has invested what nobody has done in Malawi football before,” said Bottoman.
He also described Beta Television as a serious partner that wants to develop the game of Football.
Sulom boss commended Beta TV for engaging the best television professionals with experience from Supersport and other multinational production firms apart from investing a multi million kwacha OB Van facility.
“They have planned a skills transfer system to build the capacity of a Malawian crew to produce football the way we see the Premier Soccer League and other leagues.Beta TV has invested financial resources worth over $1 million dollars which will be distributed to the Super league teams over the next 3 years,” he said.
He was also optimistic that the huge resources that will come from the Television broadcasting of Super League matches will change the scope of Malawi football once and for all.
Sulom president said Malawi football clubs will become self-sustainable and focussed on improving football rather than wasting more time begging for upkeeps. Today.
“We can now stand tall shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best leagues as a league that is making baby steps to reach our potential,” he said.
Bottoman also pleaded to all leading institutions in Malawi that there is a lot of talent in Malawi that can be developed if given resources and equipment through football clubs.
“ These are young men, the youth who can earn a decent living by showcasing their football talent but they can’t due to the financial incapacitation of our clubs,” he said.
He however, was quick to stress that it is Sulom’s wish that the live broadcasting of matches will start without a hitch and that the number of viewers per match will considerable grow every week from the 18,000 that seat at Kamuzu Stadium, to over 4 million because of this professional Television broadcasting.
Beta Television Managing Director Maneno Mtawali said they have a vision to see Malawi football attain number 33 ranking on the FIFA cocacola ranking
“We are in this with Sulom, super League sponsors and media at large. We are not here to compete but rather to partner with other media houses for the good of football development,” said Mtawali.
He said they realise that the corporate world are also a key partner to make their dream of revolutionalising football in this Country
He emphasized that for Malawi football to develop, they can not do this alone and therefore urge all stakeholders including corporates, Media Houses and even individuals to do the little they can to contribute to making Malawi football grow.
“We are proud of this milestone and hope we will do the millions of football fans in the country proud to deliver the best possible Television broadcasting .We know Football fans deserve better and we will work very hard, inch by inch to satisfy their expectations,’ he said.
Beta TV will start beaming Super League games on Saturday starting with Be Forward Wanderers against Blue Eagles match at Kamuzu Stadium before another encounter on Sunday involving Nyasa Big Bullets and Silver Strikers on the same venue.
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When is MDBN or Go TV launching its signal here in Chitipa as well as Karonga and some parts of Rumphi for us to start enjoying football on Beta TV ?
Beta TV kuno kwathu Ku Karonga sikuoneka except Times,Luso and Zodiak when one uses Zuku decoder how do you intend to take care of us please?
The signal for MDBN or Go TV decoders in some areas is not there for some sports loving Malawians, how then is Beta TV going to take of such places?
But BETA television has a questionable reputation- one of the co-owners Bester, a boer lives in abject poverty- cant even pay rentals , sold all his household items to feed himself. Beat his cousin Martin almost to death and despatched him in a bus to SA. His wife also ran away.
He is involved full time in katapila and he owes alot of money to many people.
Am also suing him for unpaid rentals.
He sucks!
I wish the bishop could partner himself with some people who are decent.
Themba, try somewhere not here.