Banyana Banyana technical team was the last to arrive at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday and Safa vice-president Linda Zwane said the matter of bonuses was still being attended to by CEO Lydia Monyepao.
Banyana rewrote history when they reached the knockout stage of the Fifa Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
They were knocked out in the Last 16 round by the Netherlands in a 2-0 defeat last week.
The national association has distanced itself from the announcement made by the South African Football Players’ Union (Safpu) that the members of the technical and support team would each receive R115 000. Safa stated categorically they did not promise R115 000 per official prior to Safpu’s unilateral announcement.
Last week, Safpu threatened court action against Safa for “reneging on their agreement”, and said the association should pay the support staff what was due to them.
Said Zwane: “That matter we have for a number of times alluded to it, and of course the CEO is the right person to be dealing with those things.
“When she was here, the question arose and she was clear that they were dealing with it. But with the players it was agreed and there are suggestions and issues around the staff, which is being given the necessary attention by the administration.
“The money from Fifa will come through the association (Safa). Fifa has put systems to make follow ups and audits and the money will go to the rightful people (players). There are also stories going around that the money is going directly to the players. Fifa is clear they are an association of associations, therefore they do things via the associations. We can guarantee the money that is due to the players will be paid to the players. We will take the country into confidence once everything has been done – like we did after the Wafcon, where, after we paid, we called a press conference and gave South Africans the confidence that what was due to the players had been paid. In this regard, we are going to do the same thing.”
Upon arrival, coach Desiree Ellis addressed the media and was supported by the full support team: “I cannot speak on that matter. I think the vice-president can address that issue. The negotiations are not done with me, they are done with the players and the staff. So, the vice-president is the best person to deal with that issue.”
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