Game on at SuperSport

I’ve only been here in Johannesburg for half a minute but the vibe and expectation for the African of Nations to start at SuperSport is so explosive. I have never been a part of such an important sporting mission and I too now can’t wait for the games to begin.

A day after landing in Joburg we had a production meeting with the entire SuperSport team that will be bringing the tournament to you and to say I was impressed is an understatement.

Just being in the same room as some of the football and analytical superstars made me nervous and for a moment there I forgot that I was part of the team. Part of the presentation and analysis team that will be bringing the African Cup of Nations to you and making it fun and interactive.

First there was Benni McCarthy who hugged me as if we were old friends! Benni McCarthy! Benni won the Champions League with Porto in 2004; a victory we all remember because it was when most people acknowledged the sparkle of Jose Mourinho. His humility and grace as he said hello to people in the room was touching. Now playing with Orlando Pirates, the goal scoring maestro will be one of the highly qualified analysts on SuperSport during the Afcon tournament. Respect.

Meet Sammy Kufuor. My first meeting with him was in the lobby of the apartment block that’s housing the non-residential analysts and hosts. Yes we’re neighbours for the next couple of weeks. He had kept us waiting for him as he had flown in early that morning and we were to take the same van to the office. Somehow waiting for such a big superstar felt like an honour and not an inconvenience; also because he was so apologetic when he arrived. Considering I had arrived nearly 24 hours earlier and had had plenty of rest time; and he and most of the West Africans had flown in at 6am that morning and it was not yet mid-day, it was understandable that they were exhausted. But he was graceful nonetheless.

Sammy Kufour spent 11 seasons playing top flight football in the Bundesliga as a defender with Bayern Munich. While in Germany he won six Bundesliga titles with the Munich club and was part of the team that won the Champions League in the 2000/2001 season. Sammy is vocal with strong opinions like Afcon should be a four year tournament and not every two years, to why he doesn’t think favourites Ivory Coast will win this tournament. The former Ghana International will definitely be airing his opinions live on SuperSport throughout the tournament and I already know that those opinions will be interesting and sometimes controversial.

The list of interesting football personalities that will be analysing the African Cup of Nations on SuperSport is long. Daniel Amokachi, former Everton and Nigeria International joins the team before kick-off, along with the current Nigerian Coach Stephen Keshi. Supersport United Coach Gavin Hunt is part of the team as well, along with former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.

Resident analysts like Andre Arendsen are also part of the team and the list goes on. Who else knows African football better than this group of people; and who can express themselves better.

When it comes to African analysts who tell it like it is; you don’t get better than Ivory Coast’s Mamadou Gaye. Known as the ever-so-honest; afraid-of-no-one personality, he can be seen every week on Soccer Africa; giving Thomas Mlambo and the team a hard time. Mamadou is sometimes too honest and in last week’s show he said Ivory Coast can only win this tournament if the Superstars stop womanising when they should be resting and focusing on the job ahead. He also criticised CAF for only awarding the winner of Afcon 2010 US$2 million. In comparison, last year Barcelona got about US$ 150 million for winning the Champions League. Mamadou is no fan of CAF and isn’t afraid to say it. He is no doubt African football fans’ favourite analyst and he’ll be at your service on SuperSport throughout the tournament.

Then there are the presenters who almost need no introduction. Thomas Mlambo, Robert Marawa, Charles Anazodo, Carol Tshabalala and I. The boys will be bringing you live build-ups while Carol and I will be hosting a daily show called “Hello Africa.”

“Hello Africa” is a light-hearted fan show that will come to you live between the two matches of the day. There’ll be reviews and previews on the show, and a segment for fans to interact with us through Twitter, Facebook and this website. We’ll be asking for your colourful pictures and experiences on how you are enjoying the tournament, so stay tuned at 8pm CAT (9pm East Africa Time) every night from the 22nd of January.

Then there are the crews in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon that will be interviewing the stars on location, watching the games live (I almost envy them) and bringing us facts and colourful stories from the host countries.

If the on-screen personalities impress you, I need to paint a picture of the team behind the scenes. Their names aren’t likely to ring any bells for you so I won’t mention them, but it takes a small village to make a good production and SuperSport’s villagers’ are a group of talented and hardworking individuals. From the executive producer to a team of producers, directors, assistants, camera and sound people; live transmission crews, researchers, wardrobe people, drivers; everyone pulling their weight to ensure a successful production.

Supersport 4 and SuperSport.com had better become your best friends for the next three weeks. The amount of work that’s gone into what you will see live on your screens during the tournament in unbelievable.

I was nervous when I landed in Joburg on Monday but I’m now a lot more confident knowing that I’m surrounded by passionate, knowledgeable, football-loving people. The Game is on at SuperSport!

The African cup of Nations runs from the 21st of January to the 12th of February. Enjoy it!