Extra Time: The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture handed Banyana Banyana R5.8 million on Tuesday while he owes Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies R1 million, says Menzi Magubane.
While we cannot downplay Banyana’s achievements, handing out millions while you still owe the best local women’s team in the country money is laughable.
Mthethwa promised the club a bonus of R1 million in January for winning the first ever African women’s champions league but they still have not received the money.
“We haven’t received a single cent from the department. It’s been six months now,” a club official told FARPost.
“The players feel like the club received the money and don’t want to give it to them, which is a bit unfair. There should be some sort of communication from the department so that the players are aware of what the situation is.”
The official explained that the money would have served as motivation to go out and defend their title.
“We all know there’s not much money in women’s football. If the ladies get what they were promised – it will be a huge motivation for them to go all out and defend their CAF Champions League title,” the Sundowns official added.
The historic achievement by Banyana Banyana on Saturday in Morocco is an example that our women’s football is heading in the right direction.
However, support is needed domestically in order to develop and produce more future stars to follow in the footsteps of the heroines who came home on Tuesday morning.
Last November Mamelodi Sundowns ladies team made the country proud when they won the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League beating Hasaacas Ladies from Ghana.
That paved the way for even bigger achievements in local women’s football. About a third of the Downs ladies played a crucial role in Banyana’s achievement.
Banyana Ba Style ladies went on to make more history as they were crowned the CAF Club of the Year last week.
I’m starting to understand why Bonang Matheba attacked Minister Nathi Mthethwa who just wanted to steal the show when Banyana clinched the Wafcon title and then handed them money he probably wasn’t aware of.
Mthethwa had no right to do so, forgetting that he and his government are failing the country’s women’s football.
So, Mthethwa and company please honour your promise and pay the ladies the money they deserve – after all it was you who volunteered to give it to them.
Image source: @DailyMaverick
