Dylan Bettencourt
Each Banyana Banyana team member is R400,000 richer after their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) win.
It was an historic night for South Africa, winning the Wafcon title for the first time ever.
This was the team’s sixth final and at last they lifted the coveted trophy.
To make the night even sweeter, the South African Football Association (Safa) reiterated that they would come good on their promise to hand each player R400,000.
“We’re going to honour the commitment and even put more than that on the table. Don’t worry about that, when we get home we’ll sit down and sort it out,” Safa president Danny Jordaan said after the final.
“They deserve R400,000 each and we are going to work hard to give them even more. They’ve really delivered for the nation and we are proud and must celebrate this achievement. We have an excellent team. Everybody’s agreed to that.”
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will also be giving out bonuses to Banyana for their triumph.
Reports suggest CAF will hand the winners R8.4 million, although it is not clear how it will be divided among players and staff.
Football in general has come under fire for the lack of equal pay between men and women, with the conversation arising after Banyana’s triumph.
Safa’s bonuses for Bafana Bafana during an Afcon tournament is said to be R920,000 for each player if they were to win.
Bafana reaching the quarter-finals alone would hand them R520,000, R120,000 more than Banyana will receive for winning the tournament.
Based on results, it is clear that Bayana are the more likely to continue winning trophies in the future while their male counterparts are fighting just to gain qualification.
But despite possible bonus disputes, Banyana, as they entered the tournament, left with a smile on their faces.
The team sang and danced their way throughout the event and showed great personality on and off the pitch.
There is no doubt that women’s football in South Africa has a long way to go but Saturday’s night’s result is a step in the right direction.
Banyana’s next major tournament will be the Fifa World Cup next year in New Zealand and Australia.
Image source: @FIFAWWC
