HARARE - Zimbabwean soccer fans might not be able to watch the 2010 Orange African Cup of Nations Finals in Angola next month as the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) needs a staggering 3,5 million euros to secure television rights for live transmission of the games.ZBH chief executive, Happison Muchechetere, said in an interview this week that they could not afford to buy the television rights at that price. This is beyond our reach. We do not have that kind of money. Its unfortunate that we will not be able to screen the matches live because the money required is just too much. Its not just Zimbabwean fans who will be affected as most countries in the
southern region have also complained about the fee. Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi are also saying they can not afford to pay that kind of money. How can we be asked to pay this much for the African Cup of Nations when for the World Cup we are being asked to pay only US $75 000? he said. Orange- a mobile phone company who have taken over the sponsorship of the biggest football tournament in Africa, own the rights.
The African Cup of Nations kicks off in Angola on January 10. A total of 16 teams will take part. Zimbabwes Warriors will not be part of that cast as they
crashed out of both the Nations Cup and the World Cup.
Post published in: Football