Following days of wavering financial disputes between the SA Football Association (Safa) and Banyana Banyana, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has admitted that government had to intervene and reach out to the Motsepe Foundation to avoid embarrassment.
The Motsepe family came to the rescue of local football once again, when co-founder and CEO of the Motsepe Foundation Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe pledged to offer a helping hand in ensuring that Banyana get what is due to them.
Moloi-Motsepe did not disclose the exact amount the foundation has contributed.
Speaking at an urgent press conference in Sandton, Johannesburg on Wednesday, Kodwa said after hitting a financial stumbling block, the Motsepe Foundation was the last hope in ensuring that there is a happy ending between Banyana and Safa.
“After our meeting later in the evening [on Tuesday], we found out that there was some additional funding which was needed in order to meet certain demands which were set out,” said Kodwa.
“We also had an opportunity to also address the players, to express our full confidence on behalf of government to say we understand the demands that were made.
“In that context, both the president of Safa [Danny Jordaan] and I, having made a few calls, one of them was a call to the president of CAF [Confederation of African Football], Patrice Motsepe to explain the situation.
“I want to thank him sincerely for the love of his country and of football. He immediately agreed to contribute, which was able to settle and make a breakthrough.
“The Motsepe Foundation came on board almost at a time when we as a country needed to make sure that we avoid any embarrassment.”
The first Banyana group will jet off to Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday evening, with the second group set to follow on Thursday.
South Africa will play Costa Rica in a friendly match on July 15 before their World Cup Group G clash against Sweden on July 23.
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