SAFA’s Financial Woes Mounting Again As Information Surfaces Around Missed Payments

• SAFA has been linked to another payment saga surrounding Bafana Bafana's recent matches
• The friendly with Eswatini is alleged to have been in limbo following the issue of non-payment
• Some have claimed that disagreements around payments are not affecting team performance

Rumblings of discontent are coming from the South African men's team. It has been alleged the current Bafana Bafana camp is unhappy after not receiving payments linked to recent matches.

This would be another episode in a long-running series that most recently had South Africa's women's team unhappy on the eve of the 2023 Women's World Cup.

A publication, currently with the Bafana Bafana squad in Abidjan, reported inside information they had gathered regarding a possible payment dispute.

iDiskiTimes reported their insider as saying that SAFA had no money and that may have been the reason behind the blunt performance against Estwatini.

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However, one of the Bafana Bafana players is said to have disputed this, per the same publication, which reported the unnamed player as saying:

"We beat Morocco without getting our match bonus, we beat DR Congo without match bonuses, the draw against Eswatini was an off day, nothing more."

The same situation arose in early September and at the time, the players accepted the resolution. Back then, IOL quoted coach, Hugo Broos as saying:

"I can assure you that this morning the problem was solved. The players will be paid but going forward we will have to learn this and the communication has to be better, and there will be no problem anymore."

During the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the payment saga nearly drove a rift through the Banyana Banyana squad on the eve of the tournament.

In an incident vehemently denied by SAFA, claims were made that coach Desiree Ellis's team selections were compromised as punishment for the team making the dispute public.

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Banyana and SAFA mired in payment saga

Sports Brief also reported in July about accusations that SAFA backtracked on the financial promises made to the women's team.

In that instance, the Motsepe Foundation stepped in to end the public row between the association and Banyana Banyana.

Despite the drama behind the scenes, the team performed on the pitch, earning unprecedented success and a host of admirers.