Meshack Khotha

Meshack Khotha

The keenly-awaited African Champions League game between Mamelodi Sundowns and Al-Ahly in Cairo tomorrow night will not be shown live on SABC 1.

Instead the game has been delayed until 10pm on the same day as the SABC will be showing the so-called popular soapie, Generations, despite it always being repeated the following day.

SABC 3, on the other hand, postponed Isidingo for the live coverage of the Proteas and England's Cricket World Cup match on Tuesday. The SABC's Joe Visagie said they will also have the news programme after the soapie.

This comes in the wake of complaints by many South Africans that local soccer was shabbily treated by the national broadcaster.

When Sowetan contacted Thele Moema, Sundowns' chief operations officer, about the issue, said: "I was not aware that our game against Al-Ahly in Egypt would not be televised live."

But Moema later, said: " I spoke to SABC 1 and they were still negotiating with sister channels (SABC 2 or SABC 3) with the possibilities of showing the game live."