New twist in Banyana Banyana's FIFA World Cup bonus row with SAFA

In a leaked letter seen by SABC Sport dated 12 July, the South African Football Association (SAFA), through CEO Lydia Monyepao, have made a final offer to the team’s backroom staff. 

However, the South African Football Players’ Union (SAFPU) claim this is a drastic turnabout on the original agreement of R115 000 confirmed at a press conference held by the Motsepe Foundation less than two weeks ago. 

According to the new proposal, SAFA detailed the new “contract” they expect coach Desiree Ellis and her support staff to sign before the tournament kicks off on 20 July, as follows: 

- USD50 [around R900] per day while on international duty  

- R50 000 for reaching the round of 16 

- R100 000 at the quarterfinal stage 

- R150 000 for the semifinals 

- R200 000 for third place 

- R250 000 for runners up 

- R300 000 if Banyana win the World Cup 

The public broadcaster broke the initial story around the payment structure for the senior women’s national team ahead of their farewell match against Botswana at the Tsakane Stadium earlier this month. 

The squad asked that their remuneration by SAFA – in addition to the R560 000 already guaranteed by FIFA – be reviewed, while they further made it clear their attire for the World Cup was inadequate. 

Following intervention from the Motsepe Foundation, as well as the National Lottery, statements issued by all parties suggested the issues had been settled.

Banyana, who face Sweden, Argentina and Italy in Group G, were set for a pay-day of up to R900 000 per player, but SAFPU have confirmed there’s another deadlock.

Union president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe has told SABC Sport the players have not put pen to paper yet until Ellis and the rest of the support staff are satisfied with the offer on the table. 

“We would have shared the information long before that letter was leaked. You’d remember that Monde Montshiwa, an NEC member, kept writing a lot of rubbish about Banyana wanting money that was specifically for women’s football development," Gaoshubelwe explained.

"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.

"I can tell you that we have not signed any of the annexures we had agreed in principle. There’s just been a back and forth and the players are not willing to go ahead [in signing] as a show of solidarity with the support staff."

Attempts to reach SAFA CEO Monyepao proved futile as her phone rang unanswered and she did not respond to messages – only she is allowed to give the federation’s standpoint on the matter.