Banyana Banyana resume WAFCON preparations following match bonus dispute

This was announced to the media by the local football mother body’s Vice-President, Linda Zwane, following yesterday's SAFA Congress.

SABC Sport broke the story yesterday that Banyana Banyana boycotted one training session on Friday, demanding that the outstanding match fees be paid before they resumed their training sessions. Zwane explains the story behind these owed matches.

"The issue of bonuses was raised prior to departure for Morocco; however, we have since addressed that matter. We know that we have a commitment to the players, and discussions have taken place within the federation as to how we can better execute our financial obligations," explained Monyepao.

READ: Banyana Banyana boycott training demanding payment from SAFA

Zwane and CEO Linda Monyepao had to step out of the Congress at the Sandton Convention Centre and connect with the team’s Head of Delegation (HOD) Thabile Msomi and Captain Refiloe Jane to resolve this impasse.

Banyana start the defense of their WAFCON title in Morocco against Ghana on the seventh of next month. Zwane says Banyana are now back at training to prepare for their final training match against Benin.

The owed fees were for matches against Malawi (April) and the three-nation games against Botswana and Zambia (May). Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana players are paid R60,000 for a win and R30,000 for a draw, and the team had won all of their last four matches.

Monyepao explains that the issue of bonuses was discussed before the departure for Morocco, but had not been resolved.

Monyepao also clarified that the issue of the owed match fees is different from the bonuses agreement standoff that reared its ugly head before the team departed for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 to New Zealand and Australia.

"The dispute before the last World Cup centered around participation fees, but this matter concerns the issue of bonuses from the friendly matches."