An interim board formed by the Tanzania Football Federation to supervise the Tanzania Premier League, the country’s top football division, has defended its decision to enter into a three-year broadcast rights deal with the Azam Television company, according to the Tanzania Daily News.
Azam has won the live broadcast rights to the TPL, beating off competition from pay-television broadcasters SuperSport and Star TV.
All 14 Premier League clubs approved each of the proposals, but Yusuf Manji, chairman of Young Africans (Yanga), has categorically refused to permit his clubs matches to be aired on Azam.
TFF chairman Wallace Karia has criticised Yanga’s stance, stating: “Contrary to Manji's assertion that TPL is an interim body and was not elected democratically, we've the mandate to make decisions that are beneficial to the country's football.
“The abrupt U-turn shows that Yanga leaders are not honest and are bent on misleading the public by distorting the facts. If Yanga don't want their matches to be beamed live let it be, but they won't be allowed to contract an alternative station for that purpose.
“They should realise that television rights belong to the national football body and not clubs and that they will forfeit shares they were supposed to get from the Azam TV deal.”