Desiree Ellis, Noko Matlou welcome FIFA Women’s World Cup cash windfall

The amount could rise to almost R1.1-million should the team progress beyond the group stages at the showpiece in Australia and New Zealand. 

As FIFA try to push for gender parity in global football, Ellis says this latest move is music to the ears of those in the women’s game.

"I think it's fantastic by FIFA. It shows, they've always said that they're going to take care of women's football, they've always said that things are going to improve," said Ellis.

"And we saw with the broadcasting rights too, that they wouldn't allow broadcasting rights to happen unless it came to what they wanted, so I think it's fantastic for the players.

"It's great for the players to know they're being taken care of. In the past as well, they compensated clubs for the development of players and clubs releasing players for the tournament, and now they've done this.

"It's absolutely fantastic, I think it could also be one extra motivating factor for players to really step up – not that you need a motivating factor to play in the World Cup."

Veteran campaigner and Banyana’s most experienced player Noko Matlou also gave FIFA’s move, which will see SAFA bagging R30 million for having a team at the World Cup, the thumbs up.

"It will be important. We just saw it in the media, but I think once the association has dealt with it, that's when we're going to know what's happening," she added.

"But it means a lot, and it will change players' lives because, as you know, when you play football, you do it for a living, so it's going to be very important for the players."