By Dylan Bettencourt
- Banyana Banyana returned to training in Morocco despite unpaid bonuses, choosing to defend their African crown over payment disputes with SAFA.
- SAFA president Danny Jordaan declared he’s done “tremendously well” despite fraud charges and R5-million deficit affecting team payments.
Banyana Banyana are back in training in Morocco – not because they’ve been paid, but because they refuse to let SAFA’s failures destroy their dreams of defending their crown.
The reigning African champions touched down ready to go, but instead of preparing for kick-off, they had to fight for their rights on Friday.
The team refused to train after the South African Football Association failed to pay them bonuses from recent friendly games against Malawi and Zambia.
It’s just the latest betrayal from an organisation that continues to let down the country’s most successful national team.
Even before they boarded the plane, there was drama. SAFA cancelled a proper farewell event planned for 23 June in Johannesburg. Instead, they announced the squad at the last minute at SABC headquarters – a major downgrade for the reigning champions.
And it’s not the first time the players have had to stand up for themselves. In 2023, they boycotted a warm-up match against Botswana when SAFA booked a poor-quality stadium that risked injuries.
Now those off-field battles are hurting the team. Star striker Thembi Kgatlana dropped out of the tournament for “personal reasons”, and veteran Jermaine Seoposenwe has announced she’ll retire after the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite all this chaos, the players chose to represent their country anyway. SAFA has promised to pay them in mid-July, with another payment due at the end of the month.
Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart said, “I always say pressure is a privilege. When our backs are against the wall, that’s when we really perform.”
She added: “We’ve got great memories in Morocco. Hopefully, we can write a new chapter, even if it’s not going to be easy.”
Meanwhile, SAFA president Danny Jordaan emerged from the association’s congress on Saturday, declaring he’s done “tremendously well” despite fraud charges hanging over his head.
Jordaan and SAFA’s CFO Gronie Hluyo are out on bail and scheduled to appear in court again in August. The association is facing a dire financial situation with a R5-million deficit.
A motion for Jordaan to step aside was withdrawn when regions realised they didn’t have enough support. Some regional presidents didn’t want to vote against him because they have their own elections coming up.
“No executive in the history of SAFA has achieved what we have. We have done extremely well,” Jordaan claimed, despite the association’s cash crunch.
But his defiance rings hollow when the country’s most successful team has to down tools just to get paid what they’re owed.
Banyana are in Group B and face Ghana on 7 July, Tanzania on 11 July, and Mali on 15 July.
Swart believes they’re ready despite the chaos: “We’ve grown so much. We’re mature, we’ve got experience, and we know what it takes.”
The players have chosen to put their country first – something their own football association continues to fail at.
Pictured above: Banyana Banyana during training in Morocco.
Image source: @Banyana_Banyana
