Many of Nigeria’s estimated two million subscribers to MultiChoice’s flagship product, DStv have been rushing to update their subscriptions to enable them watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which kicked off in Brazil yeserday.
Also, power generator mechanics are doing brisk business across the country, as Nigerians likewise rush to service their generators to ensure that they are able to watch the competition even in the event of the (persistent) power outages.
DStv offers five bouquets which range in price between N1,800 and N11,650 and officials say they have ensured that subscribers will be able to watch the World Cup on all of the bouquets.
Caroline Oghuma, public relations manager, DSTv, confirming the rush said, “the world cup is the reason behind the rush at banks. We have asked our customers to make use of online platforms (Paga, ATMs, QuickTeller) to make payment. It is much more convenient and easy.
“It is almost a norm for football enthusiasts to be involved in last minute payment to view matches, especially with Nigeria taking part in the Global event,” said a sports analyst resident in Lagos, adding that with SuperSport, Dstv’s dedicated sports channel having secured the rights to relay all the World Cup matches across the continent, the rush is expected.
With about two million subscribers nationwide, Nigeria has pegged herself as one of Multichoice’s cash cows over the years.
Football analysts had earlier predicted that subscriptions would swell in the weeks ahead of the June 12 date for the commencement of the football tournament, as Nigeria boasts a huge population of football enthusiasts.
Oghuma further revealed that the company is offering new customers on the payTv platform access all World Cup matches, irrespective of the bouquet subscribed to. In an earlier press briefing, Mar-tin Mabutho, MultiChoice’s general man-ager, marketing, had assured customers of thrilling content as well as sound picture quality, stressing that the matches would be screened live on DStv and GOtv platforms, as well as SuperSport HD channels.
“We are the pioneer digital pay televi-sion operator in Nigeria and have been in business for over 20 years. In those years, we have screened up to five World Cups during the rainy season in excellent picture and sound quality,’’ he said.
Nigeria ranks 44th out of 207 footballing nations in FIFA’s latest ratings and are as such, rank outsiders in the pecking order. Yet many compatriots are confident that the country’s team, the Super Eagles will make a mark at the competition. The Eagles may have already thwarted FIFA’s 44th position rating by being among the 32 nations at the mundial.
Also, the team has a reputation for sometimes faulting the form books, as they did by winning the Africa Cup of Nations last year, against the wildest dreams of football pundits.
Being the African champions, Africa, Nigeria and the world will be expecting a brilliant outing from the team at the global fiesta and nothing short of quarterfinals or the semifinals stage will be taken lightly, pundits say. The coach needs to explore all his tactical skills and technical expertise to ensure that the team puts up a superlative performance.
Nigerians will be glad to see Keshi team improve on Nigeria’s second round ticket booked in USA ‘94 and France ‘98. With the fact that Nigeria has not won a World Cup match since beating Bulgaria 3-2 at the group stage at France ’98.
With Nigeria, Argentina, Iran and Bosnia and Herzegovina in group F, soccer pundits are of the opinion that Argentina and Nigeria have the upper hand to progress to the next round. Though Bosnia and Herzegovina could pull some surprises, Iran remains the underdog in the group. This is because Iran has not been impressive at any of the senior world cup and there is a high possibility that that will continue because they have not been pulling weight even at age grade competition.
Being the African champions, Africa, Nigeria and the world will be expecting a brilliant outing from the team at the global fiesta and nothing short of a quarterfinal or the semifinal slot will be taken lightly, football enthusiasts say.
If Nigeria drops out of the competition at the early stages, there may still be some consolation, as there are four other African teams in the contest (Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria and Cameroon)and traditionally Africans shift their loyalty to other African teams when their own countries drop out.
ODINAKA ANUDU, FEMI ASU, ODINAKA MBONU , BEN UZOR & Anthony Nlebem
