Botswana Hammer Makeshift Banyana, As SAFA Sink In Controversy

A makeshift Banyana Banyana side lost 5-0 to Botswana at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday, in a day overshadowed by a standoff between the South African Football Association and the 2022 Women’s Africa of Nations champions.

The friendly was meant to be a farewell match for Banyana before their departure to the 2023 FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, but the day will be remembered as one of the saddest in South African football history.

The match kicked off an hour delayed, as head Coach Desiree Ellis found herself having to call on players not in the World Cup travelling party to come honour the fixture.

The selected players for the global showpiece took a stance against the South African Football Association (SAFA) earlier in the day.

The bones of contention are the issues surrounding the distribution model for the World Cup as the ladies want the guaranteed money announced FIFA recently to be added into their contracts.

The state of Tsakane Stadium has also been highlighted with players wanting to play at a FIFA certified venue. Tsakane Stadium has twice been banned by the Premier Soccer League to host any matches.

Ellis and assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli were on the bench to see out the game of the inexperienced players against Botswana.

The visitor, unfazed by all the drama around the fixture, came up with a competitive display and put four goals past Banyana in the first half.

It was only thanks to the visitors taking their foots slightly off the pedal and wasting several chances that they only added one more goal in the second stanza.

There was more drama behind the scenes as the main Banyana players were initially denied access to the stands of the stadium by SAFA officials, after they arrived midway through the first half.