'The sponsorship for Bafana Bafana has significantly reduced!' SAFA clears air on Banyana Banyana money concerns ahead of WAFCON campaign - 'We increased the bonuses four times'

Ahead of Banyana Banyana's CAF African Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence campaign, South African Football Federation Chief Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao has cleared the air on bonus concerns.

While admitting the association does not have a strong financial muscle at the moment, Monyepao said Banyana's bonuses have been increased from what the players used to earn.

"I think for us, we have to accept where we are as a federation financially. We do not have sufficient resources that we used to have to take care of both senior national teams," Monyepao told the press.

"The sponsorship for Bafana Bafana has significantly reduced, whereas for Banyana Banyana, we have beefed up their bonuses. The bonuses they get now are four times what they used to get," she added.

"However, although we increased the bonuses four times, we have not managed to get more funding for the team. So it means we have to dig deep into our pockets as a federation in order to meet all these obligations."

The SAFA top official added that the association's financial resources do not only go into catering for bonuses, as there are other critical demands that need monetary attention.

"A national team is not only about bonuses; there are so many logistics that go into the national teams. If we check the preparations for Banyana Banyana since last May, Banyana Banyana have played 12 international friendly matches," she continued.

"Against Senegal last year in June, in October, they played two top-quality matches against Denmark and England. They went to Jamaica in November-December to play those friendly matches," Monyepao said in defence of SAFA.

"They played Lesotho at the beginning of this year, which was a locally based camp. In March and April, they played our neighbours Malawi, and in May and June, they played against Botswana and Zambia."

Banyana players were reported to have boycotted their training over the unpaid bonuses, and it was feared this would affect their title defence campaign in Morocco.

According to SABC Sports, SAFA had not settled Banyana's bonuses for their match against Malawi in April and for the three-nations games that involved Botswana and Zambia.

It is understood that Bafana players get bonuses in the region of R60,000 for a win and R30,000 for a draw.

Banyana, the WAFCON defending champions, are in Group C and will face Ghana, Tanzania, and Mali. Their opening match will see them battle the Black Starlets of Ghana on July 7 before playing Mali on July 11.

Mzansi will conclude group matches with a showdown against Mali on July 14.

Currently, Desiree Ellis' charges are in Casablanca for their pre-tournament camp and will later head to Oudja, where the group matches will be hosted.