The South African Football Association (SAFA) said the World Cup players’ pay dispute had been resolved after a charity stepped in with a “small donation”. The team, nicknamed ‘Banyana Banyana’, is set to face Botswana in a friendly on Sunday as a farewell to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
However, as the team was locked in a dispute with SAFA over the bonuses they would receive, there was a boycott and a ‘removable’ national team, including a 13-year-old girl, was taken on the field as their place SAFA said an amicable resolution was reached after a donation from the Motsepe Foundation, which focuses on youth, women and other vulnerable groups in Africa.
Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa asked SAFA to meet with the players’ union (SAFPU) to resolve the issue and said in a statement on Wednesday that he was happy the two sides had met. “I call for SAFA and SAFPU to come together to urgently address the concerns raised by ‘Banyana Banyana,’ who are inspiring the nation,” Kodwa said.
“He has also reached out to the Motsepe Foundation, and I am delighted with the contribution they have made. ‘Banyana Banyana’ can now fully focus on the World Cup, knowing that his immediate concerns have been addressed.”
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
