‘SuperSport’ declares Venda a province

Venda has been trending on Facebook following the opening of the new Thavhani Mall, which has been praised for its beautiful design and having shops that many had been calling for in the area.

Now a screenshot – claimed to be from sports channel SuperSport – has added fuel to the fire after a blunder that left some criticising its “arrogance”, while some laughed it off.

In one of its recent inserts, the channel was announcing the six new teams that have joined the National First Division. On a list, it mentioned the team name on the left side, and the province where it came from on the right.

Among the teams was the Ubuntu Cape Town FC from the Western Cape, with two teams – Uthongathi and Richards Bay FC coming from KwaZulu-Natal.

However, the channel made a blunder when it mentioned a team and said it was from Venda, which was right, only that Venda is not a province. The channel even got the name of the team wrong as it spelled it as “Tshakuma”, when it should have been “Tshakhuma”.

Tshakhuma tsha Madzivhandila FC is a team from Venda, in Limpopo province.

Though some social media users were amused by the blunder, some thought it was reckless of the channel to broadcast this on national TV.

“Such ignorance from SuperSport,” wrote one user who wasn’t pleased.

It was unclear if the blunder was real, or if someone with meritorious photoshop skills was trolling the Venda people.

These were some comments on Facebook:

“Geographically at the current dispensation there’s no place called Venda.”

“Venda is a country on its own. I think it is a continent or so.”

“Zuma decided last night in his sleep.”

“They even spelled Tshakhuma wrong.”

“That’s some BS.”

“Arrogance.”

“Lol this Tshakuma team want us to know that they are from Venda not Limpopo, you should see their full name.”

“Lol kwaaa anything is possible in Mzansi angisho sphethwe umsholozi.”

“Full name ndi Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila f.c.”

“Thavhani Mall gave us independence my brother.”