South African Football Association Denies Claims of More Banyana Payment Issues

• The South African Football Association denied reports of payment disputes within the Banyana camp
• The South African Football Players’ Union claimed that SAFA have backtracked on earlier promises
• Banyana will play their first fixture of the FIFA Women's World Cup against Sweden in a week's time

The South African Football Association are setting the record straight regarding the Banyana Banyana payment row.

The Women’s national team are a week away from contesting their first fixture at the FIFA World Cup but has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently.

SABC Sport recently reported that the team were still embroiled in a row with SAFA over promised payments.

The publication quoted South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe, who said that SAFA have backtracked on a previous amount promised to coach Desiree Ellis and her backroom staff.

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"When we argued for the staff to get incentives, we were told there’s no money. Eventually, we agreed they would get R115 000 each. At the press briefing [before departure], we were told the money was raised for players and what was left was to raise the balance,” he was reported as saying.

SAFA respond to allegations

The association have now released a statement denying that any agreement was made for Banyana support staff to receive R115 000.

“The South African Football Association has noted reports doing the rounds and wishes to state categorically that we were never part of any discussions that agreed for R115 000 to be paid to the Banyana Banyana support staff. We were shocked and surprised when this announcement was made by the SAFPU President.”

SAFA’s statement further noted that nowhere in the world do staff members of a team get paid appearance fees at the World Cup.

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“We wish to state it clearly that SAFA has never promised any staff R115 000 per official prior to SAFPU’s unilateral announcement. We have said that any money raised will be distributed to the staff.

"So far, only R6-million has been raised for the players, thanks to the Motsepe Foundation and iThuba. We have committed to every single cent raised for the players, including the FIFA prize monies put on the table,” the statement further read.

The association added that the media reports had disrupted the camp. They will now hold internal discussions and revert to the staff accordingly.

SAFA accused of false promises

Sports Brief previously reported how all was still not well between Banyana Banyana and the South African Football Association.

The South African national team are due to compete in their opening World Cup fixture in just over a week, but details of more drama with SAFA have since made the news.

The South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) has now claimed that SAFA’s offer is short of what was initially agreed upon.