Banyana unsettled in Morocco

SIT-IN: Players refuse to train demanding payment from SAFA

By  Ali Mphaki

Following a more than 24-hour long journey from Johannesburg that included delayed flights and a lay-over in Ghana, African champs Banyana Banyana arrived in Morroco on Wednesday but reportedly refused to train on Friday.

Word from Morocco is that the 26-players staged a second sit-in on Friday and refused to train, citing unpaid dues from the South African Football Association, SAFA.

According to national broadcaster SABC, the players are demanding immediate payment of their outstanding salaried for their June and April camps, which were part of coach Desiree Ellis’  WAFCON preparations.

SAFA has apparently failed to disburse these outstanding fees. The team was addressed on Thursday by head of delegation Thabile Msomi, who told the players the matter had been escalated to SAFA president, Dr Danny Jordaan.

As of now, the players are in limbo awaiting an address by Jordaan. This is not the first time Banyana players are taking on SAFA regarding their payments.

Prior their departure to the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup the players had protested that their contracts did not include the $30,000(R560 000) appearance  fee promised by Fifa to each player representing the 32 teams at the tournament.

It took the intervention of the Motsepe Foundation, which came with a R6-m injection to resolve the impasse. The National Lottery Commission also pledged R2-million towards the team.

As quoted by the public broadcaster, a player who refused to be named for fear of reprisals said:’We had no formal meeting with SAFA today or prior to the camp. When we sought a meeting with the CEO, they simply said she was unavailable. The excuse given for the COO/CFO was that they were tired from an NEC meeting.”

Banyana are placed in Group C, where they will play against Ghana on Monday, Jlu 7, followed by Tanzania and Zambia in subsequent dates.

Previously, SAFA had confessed to cash flow problems regarding payments to Banyana and the men’s national team Bafana Bafana, citing, among others, SARS, and high costs of tournaments.

The SA Players Union is expected to enter the fray to try and resolve the  matter expeditiously.

The defending champions, if they are to succeed this time around, could do without recurring payment squabbles with SAFA.

It’s an own goal by SAFA.