SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan made the announcement ahead of the Banyana Banyana team’s departure to the Morocco tournament on Tuesday and said the players will share R9,2 million should they emerge victories in the continental showpiece. The remaining R800 000 will be used for other costs related to the team’s travel and stay in Morocco in the coming weeks.
“We are going to pay R9,2 million in bonuses for this team on the basis that they win the Awcon. So if they win Awcon we will pay R9,2m. If you look at the other costs, in other words our total investment in this team for specifically this Awcon, it is R10 million,” said Dr Jordaan.
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“This is our commitment and confidence in Banyana Banyana. This R10 million is the highest amount ever paid to any national team, men and women. So you have broken the barriers. You will have the highest amount ever paid to any national team in the history of South African football.
“We want you to continue to break barriers and transform South African football.”
Banyana Banyana co-captain Refiloe Jane said they are happy that they can concentrate on matters on the pitch without the distraction of unresolved off-the-field issues.
“You have always said that when we go to the tournament you want us to focus on just playing,” Jane said to the SAFA president.
“We should sort out all issue that we have before the tournament.
“Bonuses were one of the issues we had and for you to come and honour us [with a send-off at the team hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg] and give this promise is a motivation to the team. I know that besides the motivation of wanting to receive the money, we also want to go out there and represent our nation because we are not only representing ourselves but our families, friends and other players in other leagues.”
SAFA CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe said the players will receive R400 000 each should they win the tournament. He said the players are so confidence of making South Africa proud that they were only prepared to discuss winning the tournament.
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“Let me emphasize that in our meeting with the players they said they were just looking at the first prize [winning the tournament],” the SAFA CEO said.
The continental tournament starts on July 2. Banyana Banyana open their account against old rivals Nigeria.