Banyana Banyana will earn R10-million in bonuses if they win the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON), the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) has confirmed.
The South Africa Women’s national team departs for Morocco today ahead of an exciting continental showpiece where they arrived as one of the favourites for the title.
And despite the confidence already brimming within Desiree Ellis’ squad, SAFA President Dr. Danny Jordaan has further incentivised with R9.2-million set to be shared amongst the players should they return with the title while R800 000 will be used for their travelling and costs for their stay in North Africa.
“We are going to pay R9,2 million in bonuses for this team on the basis that they win the AWCON. So if they win Awcon we will pay R9,2m. If you look at the other costs, in other words, our total investment in this team for specifically this Awcon, it is R10 million,” Dr. Jordaan said.
“This is our commitment and confidence in Banyana Banyana. This R10 million is the highest amount ever paid to any national team, men and women. So you have broken the barriers. You will have the highest amount ever paid to any national team in the history of South African football. We want you to continue to break barriers and transform South African football.”
Banyana co-captain Refiloe Jane said that it provides a sense of calm to the camp in response to the announcement from the SAFA president.
“You have always said that when we go to the tournament you want us to focus on just playing,” the experienced midfielder said. “We should sort out all issues that we have before the tournament.
“Bonuses were one of the issues we had and for you to come and honour us [with a send-off at the team hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg] and give this promise is a motivation to the team.
“I know that besides the motivation of wanting to receive the money, we also want to go out there and represent our nation because we are not only representing ourselves but our families, friends and other players in other leagues.”
SAFA CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe added that R400 000 will be allocated to each player in the squad and revealed the players were only ‘interested in discussing winning’ the tournament.
“Let me emphasize that in our meeting with the players they said they were just looking at the first prize [winning the tournament],” the CEO concluded about Banyana who kick off their campaign on 2 July against Nigeria in Rabat.
