Banyana Banyana have resumed their training again after they went on strike last week over unpaid fees.
The defending CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions embarked on a strike once they landed in Morocco, to defend their title.
The stand-off is over match fees after the team played several friendlies ahead of their departure for WAFCON.
South African Football Association (SAFA) Vice-President Linda Zwane says both the association and the players have found each other and an agreement was reached,
“The Association has made a commitment towards it and making sure that players continue with their preparations as we want them to perform very well in the tournament.
We had a discussion with the captain of the team and the HOD, and we were able to then agree and sent the necessary commitment.
I think thus far the reports we’re getting are that the team is back at training, and they played a friendly game they wanted to play as part of the preparation,” said Zwane.
In addition, Zwane said the team has since returned to the pitch and played a training match against Benin on Saturday in preparation for the tournament which is scheduled to be staged from 5-16 July.
The association has been experiencing financial challenges, that has led to the non-payment or delayed salary payments of staff, federations allowances and inability to retain sponsorship owing to negative publicity.
SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao sought to dismiss media reports that the protest was in relation to friendly matches played in the last few months against Malawi and the Three-Nations series games against Zambia and Botswana, and not on the WAFCON.
“The disagreement arose in terms of the payment dates. In terms of the bonuses, however, we have since addressed that matter. We know that we have a commitment to the players and in terms of friendly matches, we give 30 days.
But I think us as a federation, you know where we are right now in terms of our financial performance and it was covered extensively in the SAFA Congress and deliberated on in terms of how we move forward, and ensuring that going forward, we can meet our obligations.
But like the Vice President has said, the matter has been settled,” explained Monyepao.
He attributed the delays to shrinking sponsorships and operating in a tough trading environment.
“We do not have the resources that we used to have in terms of taking care of both senior national teams because the sponsorship for Bafana Bafana has been significantly reduced, whereas at Banyana Banyana, we’ve beefed up their bonuses.
The bonuses they get now are four times what they used to get.
However, although we increased the bonuses four times, we have not managed to get more funding for the team.
For a local camp, we’re talking about R4.9 million if not more, and or an international camp, it’s even more,” remarked Monyepao.
The team is in Group C alongside Ghana, Tanzania and Mali.
