Kidnapping won’t deter us from Nigeria , Super Sport

By Jacob Ajom
Not even the threat by kidnappers can stop premier cable network television, Super Sport from fulfilling its mission of covering and showing the Nigerian Premier League to the world.

The Supersport Bundeshja Press Conference Media Quiz held on Tuesday, At ikeja Lagos , Pix From Left; Mr Kay Dammholz, Vice President Sales Audiovisual Right, Mr Gary Rathbone, Head of Africa Supersport, and Mr Felix Awogu, General Manager Supersport Nigeria. PHOTO: Joe Akintola, PHOTO EDITOR

Speaking in a media chat in Lagos Tuesday,General Manager of Super Sport Nigeria, Felix Awogu said that the supposed threat by kidnappers was an isolated case that would have little or no effect on the operations of the company in Nigeria.

He recalled with regret that although a Super Sport crew had fallen in the hands of kidnappers in  South East Nigeria some months back, he insisted that they were not the target “Nigeria, like any other country in the world has its share of criminals, but things still work. We will not deter in our operations. What happened in the past was an isolated case. Our crew was not the target; just like the four journalists kidnapped recently were not the target. We are in Nigeria for business, and no amount of kidnapping can stop us,”Awogu said.

Meanwhile, in its continued efforts to satisfy the usually loyal football-crazy Nigerian viewers, premier cable network television, Super Sport has added the German Bundesliga to its programmes for new football season, beginning nextmonth.

Apart from showing top-class Bundesliga fixtures the company’s head of Africa, Gary Rathbone said the “partnership with the Bundesliga” will be total engagement that will see the Nigeria benefit from.

“The Bundesliga will partner with the Nigerian league, Nigerian players and the sporting media.

“It will create a chance for youngsters playing in the Nigeria premier league, Nigerian league administrators and other stake-holders to visit Germany and have first-hand experience on how things are done in that country.”

The Bundesliga will be part of the total new package, including the English Premier League and the Spanish Laliga. Even the Nigerian league and football from other African countries will find space in the bumper package being planned for the next season