SUPERSPORTS WINS PREMIER LEAGUE RIGHTS FOR NIGERIA

Reports reaching www.aprokonews.blogspot.com say DStv’s SuperSport has acquired the Nigerian rights to the Barclays Premier League for the next three seasons 2010/11 to 2012/13.

The report, which stated that SuperSport’s arrangement includes 380 Barclays Premier League, EPL matches, plus the Premier League’s 24-hour content service in high definition, throws Nigerian viewing public in the dark over the fate of Hi Media, owners of HiTV Nigeria, who in 2009 won the exclusive rights to broadcast the EPL in the country for three seasons, after a highly competitive bid.

The Pay TV’s Chief Operating Officer, Olumide Amure, had said that HiTV’s rights covered the 2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons, adding that unlike the 2009/2010 season where HiTV owned 80 per cent of the premier league rights, the company got 100 per cent broadcast rights.

However, it was gathered today that SuperSport now has the seven-day-a-week service to be launched on 13 August and will be broadcast across the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.

“Nigeria will be one of the very first countries to receive the 24-hour content service,” said Imtiaz Patel, CEO of SuperSport.

“We are delighted to lead the way with our partners at the Premier League and associates in Nigeria.”

Commenting on the news, chairman of MultiChoice Nigeria, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, said: “We are happy to welcome back the English Premier League onto the DStv platform in Nigeria, to stand alongside the other exciting international soccer coverage we already provide to our subscribers here.

“However, our focus remains firmly on showcasing homegrown talent from the Nigerian Premier League and we will continue our investments in this regard.

“As a Nigerian business that is committed to providing our growing subscriber community across Nigeria with the world’s best channels and programming, we are pleased that SuperSport was able to take up the opportunity when it presented itself, to ensure that fans of this league will not miss any action from it.”

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, added: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with SuperSport into Nigeria and are confident they will continue to deliver a premium product that will showcase the Barclays Premier League to our many fans in the territory.”

The Premier League has traditionally enjoyed outstanding viewership ratings on SuperSport and this commercial arrangement is expected to amplify the league’s popularity. The Barclays Premier League is the biggest continuous annual sporting event in the world, followed by more than 2.5 billion fans and broadcast to more than 500 million homes.

With the latest development the future of the pay television station, HiTV with regard to the broadcast of the Premier League remains unknown.

www.aprokonews.blogspot.com attempt to get the reaction of the Managing Director of HiTV, Toyin Subair proved abortive as he neither picked our call nor replied our text messages as at press time.

HESKEY QUITS INTERNATIONAL SCENE

By Rob Parrish

Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey has announced his retirement from international football.

The powerful forward, who won 62 caps but scored just seven goals during his England career, has decided to call time on his spell with the Three Lions following their miserable World Cup campaign.

Heskey started the first match against the USA in South Africa and made a dream start, setting up Steven Gerrard's early opener.

The 31-year-old was again selected by fabio Capello for the dismal goalless draw with Algeria, before being replaced by Jermain Defoe for the victory over Slovenia and 4-1 thrashing by Germany, coming on as a substitute in both games.

Pride

Heskey said: "I have enjoyed every moment of my England career and worn the shirt with pride every time I have been fortunate enough to have been selected.

"I would like to thank every manager I have played under, everyone at the FA and the fans for all their support over the years.

"I wish the management team and the playing squad all the best for the future."

Heskey was handed his England debut by Kevin Keegan when he came off the bench in the friendly against Hungary in Budapest in April 1999.

Future

The former Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Wigan frontman was involved in the 2002 World Cup and the European Championships of 2000 and 2004.

A three-year spell away from the international scene was ended by Steve McClaren and he won his 50th cap away to Belarus in October 2008.

Heskey was not always the most popular selection among some England supporters, but successive international managers showed faith in his abilities, which were often regularly praised by his team-mates.

Capello must now look to the future as he aims to rebuild England's shattered confidence for the Euro 2012 qualification campaign without the services of the experienced forward.

MOTHER OF FORMER NFF CHAIRMAN, SANNI LULU KIDNAPPED

Hajia Lauba Abdullahi, mother of impeached President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Sani Lulu Abdullahi has been kidnapped.

Yesterday evening, less than 24 hours after the Chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Wahab Alabi Oba was kidnapped along with three other executive members in Abia State, the mother of Alh. Lulu Abdullahi was also reportedly seized by unknown persons from her Idah home.

Although details of the kidnap of the aged woman remained hazy as at press time, the personal aide of Lulu, Tunde Aderibigbe, confirmed the incident.

“It is true that some unidentified persons have take custody of the mother of Alh Lulu Abdullahi. So far, we do not know their motives. Calls to the phone of Mama (Hajia Abdullahi) were picked but no one said anything,” observed the NFF personnel.

The kidnap, which happened yesterday evening, investigations say is already attracting the intervention of security agencies of the country. While those who kidnapped the NUJ boss are demanding N250m before they can release those in captive, there is no word yet on what Hajia Lauba will be demanding for her freedom.

...AND NADAL CRIED

Tennis ace Rafael Nadal has confessed that he cried like a little boy watching Spain defeat Netherlands in the World Cup final.

The eight-time Grand Slam winner and current Wimbledon champion is an avid football fan and earlier this week became a major shareholder in hometown club Mallorca, where he watched the previous two rounds.

For the final however, the 24-year-old was at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg to witness la Furia Roja claim their first ever World Cup triumph thanks to Andres Iniesta's extra-time winner and he declared afterward that the Iberian nation should celebrate the win for a year. "I cried like a little boy. We have to celebrate for a whole year, because this is unbelievable. It is very difficult to repeat this," he said as quoted by Marca. "It will be crazy at home. Imagine, I was watching the semi-finals in Mallorca and I felt amazing. The whole country must be very proud."