Melbourne City’s Tando Velaphi will be first player mic’d-up live in game with EPL stars of Manchester City

TANDO Velaphi is an unlikely revolutionary, but the Melbourne City goalkeeper will create football broadcasting history when he is mic’d-up for friendly.

Melbourne City training

Tando Velaphi is an unlikely revolutionary, but the unsung goalkeeper is about to create football broadcasting history.

The Melbourne City goalkeeper will be mic’d-up in Saturday’s friendly against EPL giants Manchester City, with audio from the game broadcast live as it unfolds.

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Though Big Bash viewers have had live, on-field commentary provided by players including Shane Warne, the move is believed to be a first for any football code.

Saturday’s friendly — a warm-up for Manchester City against their City Group clubmates ahead of the ICC Trophy next week — will be broadcast on Fox Sports, who have won permission from City management to wire Velaphi up with a microphone.

Velaphi will have to mind his language in the heat of competition.

During the game his views will be sought periodically, while the audio from key moments including corners and freekicks will be run over replayed vision — particularly from a dedicated camera immediately behind the goal.

Another small camera will be attached to the crossbar, while Melbourne City’s assistant coach, Luciano Trani will also wear a microphone to allow broadcast of instructions to substitutes, discussion with head coach John van’t Schip and a second half live cross to the commentators.

The innovations come as Australian football authorities and broadcasters look for ways to augment coverage, without falling foul of FIFA’s opposition to on-field broadcasting technology.

Velaphi is likely to see plenty of action against the Premier League giants.

A-League bosses last year tried to introduce microphones for referees during the finals series, but were blocked by FIFA after the international players’ union, FIFPRO, objected.

The trial will be delicate for TV producers too, wary of background swearing, but the player at the centre of it has no concerns.

Pitted against Manchester City’s international strikeforce, it’s tempting to assume Velaphi was selected as potentially the busiest man on the field.

But while he admitted the concept would “take some getting used to — and I guess I’ll have to keep expletives to a minimum”, Velaphi insisted he was delighted to get a unique opportunity.

“I’m all for it — I think I’ll be getting a bit of action on Saturday night, so it’s a great chance to try something new,” he said.

“Certainly it’s a different way to interact with the viewers and the fans, and give them a different perspective to what they normally get.

“I’ve seen it in cricket I think, but nowhere else, so it might feel a little strange. But I’ve been assured it’s a small unit that won’t get in the way, and I’m actually looking forward to seeing how it plays out.”

Velaphi will trial the apparatus he has to wear in the club’s training session today, but conceded the game itself would be a rather different test.

“It’s a great opportunity to see how we fare against what is our sister club, but also a much bigger club,” he said. “So hopefully the boys in front of me stay strong and I don’t have too much to do.”

Originally published as Melbourne City’s Tando Velaphi will be first player mic’d-up live in game with EPL stars of Manchester City