By Victor Kanayo
There are indications that crisis has crept into South African football as the country’s senior women’s team, popularly known as Banyana Banyana, have declared a strike a few days to the kick-off of the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The tournament is scheduled for Morocco, and the South African team, the defending champions, had arrived on Wednesday.
Reports from SABC Sport said the players’ refusal to train was due to unpaid dues from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Further information revealed that the team boycotted their second training session on Friday after lodging complaints with SAFA.
The players are demanding immediate payment of outstanding salaries for their April and June camps, which were part of coach Desiree Ellis’ WAFCON preparations.
The national football mother body, SAFA, has reportedly failed to disburse these outstanding fees.
Though the team was addressed on Thursday by Head of Delegation Thabile Msomi, who informed the players that the matter has been escalated to SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan, they have remained in limbo, awaiting a direct address from Dr. Jordaan regarding their payments.
A player who requested anonymity, fearing reprisal, told SABC: “We had no formal meeting with SAFA today or even prior to camp. When we sought a meeting with the CEO, they simply said she was unavailable. The excuse given for the CFO/COO was that they were tired from a NEC meeting.”
South Africa won the WAFCON title two years, and the upcoming 2024 edition is set for kick-off on 5 July 2025.
