MUMBAI: The first official broadcast of a FIFA World Cup(tm) match in Swahili has taken place in South Africa, with BBC World Service broadcasting live in Swahili from the Serbia v Ghana match on 13 June
In this historic first, the commentary team of Charles Hilary and Salim Kikeke commentated live from the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria to cover the Serbia v Ghana game The match was broadcast to Africa via the BBC’s FM partner relays.
As a result of an agreement with FIFA and the African Union of Broadcasters (AUB), the BBC Swahili team will for the first time ever, provide live Swahili commentary on a wide range of games during the tournament, including the semi-finals and finals.
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As well as broadcasting in Swahili, BBC World Service will also be running live commentary in English on FM relays across Africa – on each of the qualified African teams’ games during the tournament as well as the climax of the competition – including the semi-finals and the final.
Working with FIFA and the AUB, BBC World Service’s team will be joined in the commentary box for the duration of the tournament by three sports journalists from across the continent – Arjun Vidyarthi, a Sports Editor with Radio Africa in Kenya; Malik Jones, a journalist at Gambia Radio and TV Service, and Stanley Katsande, a commentator and analyst on both radio and television for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation These three journalists will act as additional commentators and pundits during the tournament.
“This deal embodies FIFA’s endeavour to make the FIFA World Cup accessible to as many fans as possible in Africa and across various types of media. It truly marks another milestone for this historic tournament and we are thrilled that together with the AUB and the BBC World Service we could make it happen,” said Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV.
“Africa’s first FIFA World Cup has just marked another milestone — the first-ever official Swahili radio broadcast of a FIFA World Cup match.
The AUB is pleased to be able to break new ground together with FIFA and the BBC,” said Larry Atiase, CEO/General Director of the AUB.
Jerry Timmins, Head of Region for Africa and the Middle East, BBC World Service says:
“For BBC World Service, this live Swahili commentary marks a historic first. I am particularly pleased that sports journalists from African FM stations have been able to join the BBC teams. The first World Cup in Africa is bringing many firsts for broadcasters on the continent and we are proud to be breaking new ground to better serve audiences across Africa.”
