Two horse race In tv rights bida

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has disclosed that Times Television has been disqualified from the broadcasting rights bidding as it did not submit a financial proposal as per requirements.

Sulom executive member Chimwemwe Nyirenda, who is heading the bidding committee, said this during the annual general meeting (AGM) in Lilongwe yesterday.

The disclosure, which comes as the team is still scrutinising the bids submitted last month, means that Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Zodiak Broadcasting Station ares the only bidders remaining in the contest.

“Times did not include financial proposal. So, technically, they are out of the race,” he said.

But Times Group commercial manager Lusayo Msukwa said Sulom had not informed them about the disqualification therefore he could not respond thoroughly.

He said: “I am hearing this from you. We tendered our bid and we are waiting for feedback. It is therefore difficult to respond when there is no communication from Sulom.”

Meanwhile, Nyirenda also hinted that they are still a long way before announcing the successful bid.

Opening the AGM, Sulom president Tiya Somba-Banda said they were banking on television rights revenue to supplements gate revenue.

“We are being told that the games might be played without supporters. However, even if the fans are allowed, we won’t see the multitudes we used to see in the past,” he said.

The league was suspended on the eve of the new season kickoff after government banned gatherings to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Government announced this week that sports can return mid next month with teams training.

Meanwhile, Somba-Banda projected that the top flight may kick off in November this year.

“Technically, from now up until mid next month,  we need to start testing our players. The modalities will be communicated in due course,” said  Somba-Banda.

The Sulom president has described Covid-19 as a blessing in disguise, as it will help the football industry to be creative in revenue generation.

“We need to create new ways of generating revenue rather than relying on gate collections. Our operating model in football administration has changed. We are not going to see multitudes that we used to see during games,” he said.

“We are supposed to rethink the way we administer the game. Foreign teams have changed the way they manage the game and are surviving.”