PSL awards prove we can shelve egos, share loot and forge on

I always look forward to the pizzazz that comes with such ceremonies as Premier Soccer League (PSL) awards.
The acoustic setting, fashion, hosts and the modishly dressed footballers, coaches and referees all form the attraction.
But on Monday night, I had more than one interest. Our very own, Mamelodi Sundowns and Cranes number one goalkeeper, Dennis Onyango, was in the mix.
The reigning Absa Premiership champion with Sundowns – for his spectacular reflexes and shot-stopping niche - was eventually announced Goalkeeper of the Year winner, an award that came with R50,000 (Shs10m).

Rewarding the reigning Nile Special Uspa Footballer of the Year for his decade-efforts in South Africa - arguably the best goalkeeper playing in Africa - was long overdue.
But more than Onyango, it is the ease with which the PSL and their partners, most fiercely competing brands, pull off such extravaganzas every year – in one room and on harmonized scripts – all in the true spirit of the game.

On one hand you have Minenhle Dlamini and Thomas Mlambo of SABC, and on the other; Carol Tshabalala and her SuperSport colleague Robert Marawa jointly hosting the awards.
In broadcast business, SABC and SuperSport could be Kenya and Uganda in the Rugby Elgon Cup, Manchester United and Manchester City in football, or SC Villa and Express of old.
But here they were sharing the stage, presenting a show that was telecast live both on SABC1 and SS4. Of course that will have been part of the deal, given that SuperSport own the PSL broadcast rights to a tune of R2b (Shs424b or $126m), to which they sell games to SABC.

That takes me to back to 2011 when the SuperSport signed a $5m (Shs13b) five-year deal to broadcast our league. That was enough money to see Fufa and USL lose their heads, enough for them to partake in parallel leagues, and enough to say, “if we can’t have it, you won’t.” In the end, rather than bargain for bigger things we had successfully fought our way out of Shs13b. You stop to wonder where we would be if the progress had been sustained.

Azam did come in early last year on a $1.9m (Shs5.4b then) three and a half-year deal, and to be fair to them, they have showed the games and clubs got their money. But the impact – in terms of reach - is hardly the same. Would the authorities have settled for bigger money and let the buyer sell selected games to the other? Perhaps. But the forces here had to first shelve their egos for that to happen, plus, they had to be patient and build a product for bargaining power. But for the juvenile rush!

It may not be the strongest on technique but the PSL takes the lead in other areas. In hosting awards for competitions, some of which Safa delegated to PSL like the Nedbank Cup (Uganda Cup) and National First Division (Big League), with competing brands as MTN and Telkom, Absa and Nedbank, SS and SABC, the South Africans prove that we can all share the loot and do business.

xxxxx East Africa’s Ryder Cup xxxxx
An eight-man Ugandan team are in Nairobi, Kenya for what could be the most significant tournament ever mooted by the golfing unions of the two nations. To be played on a match-play format at Muthaiga Golf Club starting Friday to Sunday, the event has already received positive vibes in the fraternity, with some likening it to the Ryder Cup.
A biennial men’s golf competition, the Ryder Cup - named after English businessman Samuel Ryder, who donated the initial trophy - is competed for by teams from Europe and the United States with the event alternating between courses in the two continents.
Kenya and Uganda seem to be on a similar path, although starting with amateurs.