Mamelodi Sundowns Fans Left in Limbo After Lightning Delay and SABC No-Show
Mamelodi Sundowns supporters were left scrambling for alternative viewing options on Sunday after the club’s CAF Champions League encounter against Wiliete SC was not televised on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) despite earlier indications that the match would be available on national television.
The Brazilians travelled to Angola for the continental fixture, which was scheduled to take place at the Estadio Nacional da Tundavala. The match had been listed with a 17:00 South African kick-off time as Sundowns began another campaign in Africa’s premier club competition.
However, shortly before the game, weather conditions disrupted preparations and forced officials to delay the start of the encounter. Sundowns informed supporters of the change through an official statement.
“Kick-off has been delayed by 30mins due to adverse weather conditions and the risk of lightning. The new kick off time is 17H30 SAST,” the club announced before kick-off.
While fans were preparing for the revised starting time, many expected to watch the match on SABC+ after the fixture had been advertised as a live broadcast on national television platforms.
Instead, supporters discovered that the game was not being televised on SABC+, leading to confusion among viewers who had planned to follow the action from home.
With no television coverage available, Sundowns moved quickly to ensure their supporters could still access the match. At around 15:50, the club directed fans to Wiliete SC’s official social media channels for the live broadcast.
The Angolan side streamed the match on its YouTube and Facebook pages, effectively making those platforms the primary viewing option for South African supporters wanting to watch the CAF Champions League clash.
The unexpected broadcasting situation added to an already unusual afternoon in Angola, where bad weather delayed kick-off and television viewers were forced online to follow the action. For many Sundowns fans, Wiliete SC’s social media streams became the only way to keep track of their club’s latest continental assignment.