SuperSport TV vernacular commentators are up in arms following the new amendment done by a paying TV channel broadcast that they should do their commentary work in the studio, Randburg, and not at the stadiums.
This is due to the cost cutting measures by the broadcaster because they have to pay accommodations, book cars and flights to attend those matches.
This means that Zama Masondo, Veli Khumalo, Phumlani Miya and Reggie Ndlovu (all isiZulu), Arnold Rankoko, Maphale Moloi and Baba Mthethwa (both Sesotho), Tshepo Maimane (Setswana) will no longer be attending the games and they will commentate via the feed from the stadiums and will do their work from the studios.
This has not gone down well with them, with one saying “this breaks the camaraderie because we travelled together and we sit and have lunch and that adds to value whenever we are at it.”
In matches that were played on Friday when the DStv Premiership resumed, there were a lot of “sad faces” according to a source and so was in Durban when Kaizer Chiefs beat Golden Arrows 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
“On Friday it was like farewells,” the source revealed.
What is so bizarre is that, according to the source, this will only happen in football and not in rugby or cricket, as those vernacular commentators will still go to match venues to do their work, infuriating more of the football vernacular commentators, who said it was also a struggle to do their work during the FIFA World Cup via the feed.
“This is going to happen in football only,” the source said.
“It was hard to do this even during the World Cup. You can’t tell the audience that fans are slowly coming to the stadium because now I’m basing my views based on what I see on the screens.
“They are trying to say vernacular is rubbish and who is watching football? It’s black people.
“Maxwell (Tshunungwa, the executive producer at SuperSport) is arrogant and we see that when we greet him, he doesn’t give the same respect, but when it’s a white, he’s high.”
Former England star striker Michael Owen, who was roped in to be the analyst for the World Cup, according to the source, SuperSport could not afford him going further in the competition, disappearing after the round of 16.
“Michael Owen left before the quarter finals because they couldn’t pay him anymore,” revealed the source.
“Those guys who were here for the World Cup were paid millions and to tell you the truth, it was the worst team put together for this World Cup. It was absolutely terrible.”
In trying to get a comment from the pay TV broadcaster, iDiski Times phoned SuperSport communications manager, Clinton van der Berg, but he did not answer his phone.
Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).
