SA Football Players Union (SAPFU) president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe has revealed the finer details of Patrice Motsepe’s rescue plan that has saved Banyana Banyana’s World Cup dream.
With the help of CAF president Motsepe donated and Ithuba National Lottery, Banyana will be smiling all the way to the bank after receiving a donation of R8 million.
Motsepe donated R6 million, while Banyana will get R2 million from Ithuba. The generous efforts of the two saw the bonus dispute between Banyana and cash-strapped SAFA resolved.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Wednesday in Sandton on eve of Banyana’s departure for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia set to be staged from July 20 to August 20.
The second group of Banyana will depart on Thursday, as the first group on Wednesday as now their focus will be on delivering results.
SA Football Players Union (SAPFU) president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe expressed his happiness as the African champions will get R230,000 added to the $30,000 (R562,000) appearance money from FIFA. The World governing body’s payment will increase for nations who make it past the first round
All the Banyana backroom staff, consisting of more than 10 members, will receive R150,000 as revealed by Gaoshubelwe.
MOTSEPE, ITHUBA DONATE R8m TO END BANYANA/SAFA DISPUTE
“What we have agreed is that at least by the time the ladies leave, we have a contract,” said Gaoshubelwe “We have an annexure that will be signed by the players. Part of the annexure will say part of the money that will be received from Fifa includes the issues of travel, accommodation and so on.
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“But over and above that there’s an additional income that will come from the association [via the Motsepe backing], which is R230,000 for the players and R150,000 for the staff. There’s been a commitment from the president of Safa [Danny Jordaan].”
The SAFPU president went on to state that negotiations were difficult and took over two days until the early hours of Wednesday.
“The negotiations were tough, but we had to go through them. We have not yet signed the documents, but we have agreed [in principle] to say these are the things and that’s why we [Banyana] are going,” he added.
“We finished talks in the early hours of this [Wednesday] morning, dealing with some of these issues. When we leave here [the Hilton Hotel in Sandton] we should have signed these contracts.”
Banyana, who are ranked 54th in the world, are in Group C alongside third-ranked Sweden, 16th-ranked Italy and 28th-ranked Argentina.
“If they go to the last 16, they get $60,000 (R1.128m), to last-8 $90,000 (R1.692m), and if they win it, they’ll come home with $270,000 (R5.076m), for the champions,” confirmed Gaoshubelwe.
As a result of the financial dispute, Banyana did not play their send-off match on Sunday at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday against Botswana. A makeshift side, selected by SAFA, lost the match 5-0.