The province of Limpopo, along with its professional wing, Sports Confederation, was interested in hosting Banyana Banyana’s farewell match on Sunday before the FIFA World Cup kicked off late this month, but SAFA apparently had other ideas.
As they wrote to SAFA, who did not open the bid for the game to cities, the Limpopo government was left with egg on their face as they sent letters to the association including guarantees, but no one from the association replied.
The Limpopo government and sports even said the game was going to be free for fans to attend, but still, SAFA was not interested.
Instead, Banyana played on an embarrassing pitch in the FIFA World Cup warm-up match against Botswana at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday.
However, the World Cup-bound squad refused to play at the venue as they were concerned about the state of the pitch and there were also many outstanding issues that were not discussed before they could leave, which became an issue.
As Banyana World Cup-bound squad boycotted the match, SAFA quickly put the team together to play Botswana on Sunday morning, with players made up of clubs around Gauteng participating in the SASOL and Hollywood Bets League.
However, they were hammered by Botswana, who won 5-0 on the day.
“Polokwane Municipality and Sports Confederation in Limpopo had agreed that the New Peter Mokaba Stadium is available. We were going to provide a big screen, WIFI, protocols, an escort team – all those things,” said Ally Pope, who is the president of Limpopo Sports Confederation.
“As the confederation, we worked extra miles to go and entice the corporate world to support the initiative. The big company was willing to procure the main presidential suite for top attendees to the event.
“It became so unfortunate somewhere around the 23rd and 26 of May, we could not receive the joy that we were working on to say we were granted the opportunity to host. We got the letter that had been granted to us from the Limpopo municipality.”
Even though Banyana lost 3-2 to Serbia on 10 April, the Limpopo government was interested in hosting the game.
“We were then given 2 July and we accepted the second of July. Upon accepting 2 July, we went ahead with our plans,” added Pope.
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“In terms of our part, we were ready. So unfortunately the decision was taken by (SAFA) and upon learning that the game will be played in Gauteng, we also officially wrote to SAFA that we are no longer hosting because we got it through the corridors that we are no longer given the right to host it.”
Pope said, just like everyone in the country, they are hurt by what transpired on Sunday.
“We feel the pain, we are not happy and we cannot rejoice,” he said.
“Honestly speaking, I wouldn’t want to see anyone’s failure being celebrated. But we feel the pain.”
