The real action for Banyana Banyana begins on Sunday (7am, SA time) when they face third-ranked Sweden in their opening Group G match at the Fifa Women’s World Cup at the Wellington Regional Stadium in New Zealand.
But the Sunday Times learned late Saturday that while players are happy with the financial deal they agreed with the SA Football Association (Safa) before they departed for New Zealand last week, they’re yet to sign their contracts.
The latest impasse came as Safa this week presented something believed to be different to the R115 000 that Banyana’s support staff had promised last week for their work. In the new offer, Safa are saying the staff of about 15 members will get R900 a day, which translates to about R25 000 if Banyana don’t go beyond the first round.
“But this doesn’t mean that the players won’t honour their matches at the World Cup. They haven’t signed their deal because they’re supporting the staff,” SA Football Players Union president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe said on Saturday.
Attempts to reach Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao were unsuccessful on Saturday as she was traveling from Ivory Coast.
Saturday’s 2-0 victory over fellow World Cup competitors Costa Rica in a warm-up friendly should give Banyana a bit of momentum and confidence going into their toughest of their three group matches.
Banyana have faced the Swedes twice in friendlies before, drawing 0-0 in their last encounter in Cape Town early in 2019 after losing 3-0 in the previous match in the same city in 2018.
Sweden finished as runners-up, losing against Germany in the 2003 final, and will start the ninth Women’s World Cup as dark horses. Peter Gerhardsson’s side is expected to bulldoze their way out of the group that include Italy (ranked 16th) and Argentina (28th).
Banyana are the reigning African champions after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last year. However, the fact that they’re ranked lower (54th) means they will be considered minnows in their group even though they’re making their second successive appearance at the showpiece.
After scoring one of the goals in Saturday’s win over Costa Rica, Banyana star striker Thembi Kgatlana (27) sounded confident about the team’s chances.
Kgatlana scored the only goal in 2019 in France where Banyana made their maiden appearance at the World Cup, suffering losses against Spain (3-1), China (1-0) and Germany (4-0). “We needed this game (Costa Rica) because we’re going to the World Cup in less than a week. Having played this match, I think it will boost us with a lot of things that we still need to tweak. I think we did a very good job today,” said the US-based Banyana striker.
Banyana players will earn $60,000 (R1.14m) each if they can get positive results against Argentina (July 28) and Italy (August 2), and proceed to the last-16 alongside group favourites Sweden
A lot of preparation time for Banyana was wasted in the dispute the players had with Safa bosses. They needed to be sure of what they’ll earn for their efforts at the World Cup. Banyana are at least guaranteed Fifa’s $30,000 (R572,000 ) each and R230,000 if they bomb out in the first round.
But Banyana players will earn $60,000 (R1.14m) each if they can get positive results against Argentina (July 28) and Italy (August 2), and proceed to the last-16 alongside group favourites Sweden.
“There’s no time to slack. Every time is the time to learn and I think it will be great for everyone to go back to the drawing board and see what we could have done better. And we continue to take it from there,” added Kgatlana after their match.
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis’ experience — together with that of Kgatlana, captain Refiloe Jane, Linda Motlhalo, Noko Matlou, Jermaine Seopesenwe, Andile Dlamini and Bambani Mbane — should help Banyana perform better than they did in France four years ago.
The only worry could be how Banyana players’ fitness was affected by a lack of preparation matches, but Ellis confirmed this week that the players were now fully focused on what they need to do to improve on their showing in 2019.
With a wiser and experienced Kgatlana and co, Banyana may indeed surprise a lot of people Down Under.
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