
FILE PHOTO: Former Banyana Banyana player Lydia Monyepao now the CEO of SAFA. PICTURE: Gallo Images
JOHANNESBURG: The Association will disburse the money earned during the global football tournament, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has cleared the air surrounding the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup payments to players. The Association will disburse the money earned during the global football tournament, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
SAFA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lydia Monyepao confirmed to Centrecircle.online that only the Association will handle player finances. “FIFA does not have a relationship with the players, the relationship is with member association and it’s something I have made it clear.
They give us the money and we distribute it,” she said. She went further to reveal that Banyana Banyana players have already been paid R230 000. This is the money that the association received from the Motsepe Foundation and Ithuba.
There has been widespread speculation on the bonuses the players were going to receive and from whom. Before the senior women’s national team left the South African shores for the World Cup, there was a stand-off between SAFA and the players, who were supported by the South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) over bonuses.
In addition to the bonuses, the stand-off hinged on the quality of both opponents for their send-off match and stadium. SAFA had organised a send-off match against the neighbouring Botswana at the 5000-capacity Tsakane Stadium in Brakpan, East Rand, Gauteng.
The players refused to honour the fixture. As a result, a makeshift team had to be called on the day to avoid SAFA’s humiliation.
The neighbours walloped the makeshift team 5-0. Having reached the last 16, the Banyana Banyana players will be smiling all the way to the bank as each player will pocket a whopping $60,000 (R1,130 million).
The pay structure for each player in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is as follows:
• Group stages – $30 000 (R565 000)
• Round of 16 – $60 000 (R1, 130 million)
• Quarterfinals – $90 000 ( R1,695 million)
• Fourth Place – $165 000 (R3,109 million)
• Third Place – $180 000 (R3,392 million)
• Second place – $195 000 (R 3,674 million)
• First place – $270 000 (R5,008 million)