Sports broadcaster Thomas Mlambo has called on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to make television broadcasting a compulsory requirement for clubs and countries participating in its competitions following the absence of live coverage of Kaizer Chiefs' CAF Confederation Cup clash against Red Arrows FC.

Kaizer Chiefs confirmed that Saturday afternoon's encounter in Ndola, Zambia, would not be televised for supporters in South Africa because the hosts had reportedly failed to provide the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) with the necessary broadcast link.

The announcement disappointed many Amakhosi supporters who had hoped to watch their team compete in the continental competition from home.

Instead of providing live television coverage, the Soweto giants indicated that they would keep fans updated through their official account on X, sharing information and key moments from the match venue.

The situation attracted the attention of Mlambo, who believes that clubs and host countries participating in CAF tournaments should be required to ensure their matches are available for television broadcast.

His comments have reignited discussions about the accessibility of African football and the responsibilities of teams hosting important continental fixtures.

For Kaizer Chiefs supporters in South Africa, the lack of television coverage means they cannot follow the match through the country's public broadcaster. As a result, many fans will have to depend on online updates to keep track of the action in Zambia.

The situation has also raised questions about the arrangements governing broadcasting rights and whether sufficient measures are in place to ensure supporters can watch matches involving clubs from different African countries.

Television coverage plays an important role in connecting football clubs with their supporters, sponsors and international audiences. When matches are unavailable to viewers, it can limit the exposure of participating teams and make it difficult for fans outside the host country to follow their clubs.

Mlambo's proposal suggests that CAF should consider introducing stricter broadcasting rules that would require participating clubs and host countries to make the necessary arrangements before matches take place.

Such a requirement could help prevent similar situations in the future and ensure that supporters are not left without access to important continental fixtures.

However, it remains unclear whether CAF will respond to the concerns or consider changes to its existing broadcasting arrangements.

For now, Kaizer Chiefs supporters will have to rely on the club's digital platforms for updates from Ndola as the debate over television access to African football continues.

The incident has highlighted the importance of reliable broadcasting arrangements and raised a question that CAF may face increasing pressure to address: should every match in its competitions be made available to television audiences?

https://x.com/thomasmlambo/status/2111425982242636156