Audio attached
Live telecast of AFCON to Nigerians still possible, says Sports Minister
NAN-S-18
Telecast
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2013 (NAN) Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi said on
Friday in Lagos that efforts were still on to ensure that Nigerians
watched the live telecast of matches of the Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON).
Live telecast of AFCON to Nigerians still possible, says Sports Minister
NAN-S-18
Telecast
Lagos, Jan. 18, 2013 (NAN) Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi said on
Friday in Lagos that efforts were still on to ensure that Nigerians
watched the live telecast of matches of the Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON).
The tournament has been scheduled to begin on Jan. 19 in Johannesburg.
Abdullahi, also Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), made
the promise at a Media Round Table with the Sports Writers Association
of Nigeria (SWAN) in Lagos.
the promise at a Media Round Table with the Sports Writers Association
of Nigeria (SWAN) in Lagos.
He said it was unfortunate that the country had found itself in such a
difficult situation.
difficult situation.
He wondered why those that those saddled with negotiation acquiring
the Broadcast Righs acted late in opening the negotiation late. ``They
ought to have acted much earlier’’.
the Broadcast Righs acted late in opening the negotiation late. ``They
ought to have acted much earlier’’.
Cue in audio 1
``Why this is just coming up now two days or so to the Africa Cup of Nations? It’s unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this
situation but I must say also that it is more a matter for the
Ministry of Information than to the Ministry of Sports.
situation but I must say also that it is more a matter for the
Ministry of Information than to the Ministry of Sports.
``But we’ve tried to assist, got NFF to even write a letter to them
and I got a preview yesterday (Thursday) but I’m still optimistic that
something would happen because negotiation still continues.
and I got a preview yesterday (Thursday) but I’m still optimistic that
something would happen because negotiation still continues.
``But that’s the situation, we shouldn’t find ourselves in this
situation in the first place and that if we envisage this crisis, the
people who have responsibility to ensure that Nigerians watch the
competition ought to have risen long before now.’’
situation in the first place and that if we envisage this crisis, the
people who have responsibility to ensure that Nigerians watch the
competition ought to have risen long before now.’’
Cue out audio 1
He said he had heard about the broadcast rights tussle from the
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, while he was away in Faro,
Portugal to monitor the Super Eagles preparations.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, while he was away in Faro,
Portugal to monitor the Super Eagles preparations.
Cue in audio --2
``The Honourable Minister of Information was actually the first person
that mentioned it to me that there are issues about broadcast rights
but wanted me to speak with CAF.
that mentioned it to me that there are issues about broadcast rights
but wanted me to speak with CAF.
``I spoke with some of my contacts in CAF and they said, look, CAF has
no issues with it, they’ve sold the rights to LC2 and that LC2 has the
right to do whatever the like with the license they’ve got.''
no issues with it, they’ve sold the rights to LC2 and that LC2 has the
right to do whatever the like with the license they’ve got.''
Cue out audio –2
He added that he made several efforts to resolve the issue with the
Africa Football Confederation (CAF) but was informed the right had
been sold to LC2. (NAN)
HAY/TON/MSAD
Africa Football Confederation (CAF) but was informed the right had
been sold to LC2. (NAN)
HAY/TON/MSAD
