The team, known by its nickname ‘Banyana Banyana’, had been due to face Botswana in a friendly on Sunday as a send-off to the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) said a pay disagreement with its Women’s World Cup team had been resolved after a charity stepped in with a “ humble donation ”.
The platoon, known by its surname ‘ Banyana Banyana ’, had been due to face Botswana in a friendly on Sunday as a send- off to the event in Australia and New Zealand.
But with the team locked in a disagreement with SAFA over perk payments and contracts for the showpiece event, a shadow public side including a 13- time-old took the field rather.
SAFA said an amicable resolution had been reached following a donation from the Motsepe Foundation, which focuses on youth, women and other vulnerable groups across Africa.
Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa had called on 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 come together.
“I made the call for SAFA and SAFPU to come together to urgently address the enterprises raised by Banyana Banyana, who inspire the country so much, ” said Kodwa.
“The Motsepe Foundation was also approached, and I’m thrilled by the donation that they made.
“Banyana Banyana can now concentrate completely on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, knowing that their immediate enterprises have been addressed. ”
Precious Moloi- Motsepe, CEO of the foundation, said they felt “ duty- bound to make a humble donation. ”
South Africa will meet Costa Rica in a final warm-up game in Christchurch on July 15. It opens its Group G crusade against Sweden on July 23 before taking on Italy and Argentina.
A foundation set up by African football chairman and billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe stepped in Wednesday to resolve a pay disagreement between South Africa’s Women’s World Cup players and their public association, icing they will get on a aeroplane and head to the event in Australia and New Zealand.
The disagreement caused the entire team to sit out a game on Sunday and was an embarrassment to the South African football association and a country bidding to host the coming Women’s World Cup in 2027.
It was also another suggestion of the long- standing issue of pay difference between men’s and women’s football.
South African football association chairman Danny Jordaan, whose organization came under surcharging review over the last many days for not looking after its women players, conceded there was still” a massive gap” encyclopedically when it came to pay for men and women players despite world body FIFA’s sweats.
To end the South African problem, the Motsepe Foundation gave$ 320,000 to be participated between the 23 players going to the Women’s World Cup, officers blazoned at a news conference in Johannesburg.
They said that had ended the standoff and would allow the players to travel in two groups latterly Wednesday and on Thursday to New Zealand ahead of the World Cup. Know More Latest Football News…
