Andrew Muchineripi Soccer
There is nothing quite like competition to improve standards, and a lack of it may explain the rather pedestrian performance of the SABC when it comes to soccer.
SABC TV does some things well, others adequately and others extremely poorly, and it was the mixed coverage of the Afro- Asian Nations Cup match in Saudi Arabia that moved me to delve into the world of the small screen.
While this humble member of the Muchineripi clan has not seen worse pictures since a World Cup qualifier against Congo in Pointe Noire six years ago, the SABC is only partly to blame. The pictures from hell, with the sun seemingly shining into the cameras and slow-motion replays long after incidents, were provided by a Saudi station and were beyond the control of the SABC.
However, surely someone at the SABC should have checked the quality of the Saudi coverage before a match that finished 0-0 to give Bafana Bafana the trophy courtesy of a first-leg goal from Pollen Ndlanya?
Following readmittance to international football in 1992 after almost three decades of apartheid-induced isolation, the men and women at Auckland Park realised coverage from other African broadcasters was unacceptably low. So instead of the usual South African trait of complaining about our brothers and sisters north of the Limpopo, the SABC accepted the problem as being a solution waiting to happen.
They dismantle an outside broadcast unit each time Bafana Bafana have a date in Africa, load it on a plane, assemble it at the match venue, and viewers see first- class pictures.
Unless, of course, we are talking Pointe Noire and soldiers climb on the roof of the Municipal Stadium stand and inform the cameramen that they are a security risk.
While the passing years have dimmed my memory, I seem to recall first-class pictures from Saudi Arabia during the 1997 Confederations Cup, so the plot thickens. Perhaps it was just as well we did not see the first 35 minutes. During those unscreened minutes, Saudi Arabia missed a penalty kick, yet presenter Robert Marawa made no mention of this. Did he not know or did he not consider it newsworthy? I hope it was the former.
What I do know is that many viewers were extremely irritated by the understandably late (the SABC said they could not afford to cut into high-revenue regular programmes) screening of the match.
So why did Marawa go yapping on with former University of the Witwatersrand coach Eddie Lewis and English referee David Elleray before showing us the last 10 minutes of the first half? To heighten our fury, Lewis spent more time subtly begging for a job from the South African Football Association (Safa) than telling us about South Africa and Saudi Arabia.
At least Elleray had refereed in Riyadh and was able to provide interesting insight into the atmosphere and behaviour of Saudi fans.
While I find Marawa to be a pleasant host, he really does need to do more research before programmes. Why, for example, where we not told that the Saudis had lost only twice to African opposition in more than 40 matches?
My feeling is that he also needs to control his guests more. When Lewis was wandering off down his Safa-must-give-me-a- job street, Marawa should have steered him back to the issue at hand. However, until Marawa and company face direct competition, it is doubtful whether they will improve. And some gentlemen need to brush up their knowledge of England and football considerably.
How can former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker Marks Maponyane call Jomo Cosmos defender Hilton Jordaan a striker? How can Brian Mulder say Chiefs played 3- 5-2 against Cosmos when it was 4-4-2?
And when is someone going to tell Kevin Evans that there is a world of difference between radio and television commentary? We can see that the ball was booted upfield; just identify the player. Where is Mark Gleeson, who stands head and shoulders above the rest? While I wish he would spend more time describing tactics and less on often obscure statistics, the man is a professional. He does his homework, unlike many of his colleagues who give the impression of lacking even a rudimentary knowledge of the game.
While the Premier Soccer League has achieved much since its formation in 1996, giving exclusive rights to the SABC is certainly not one of their best decisions. Only when e.tv or SuperSport can compete will the SABC improve.