Gauteng has become the second province to contribute to the purse for Banyana Banyana – the recently crowned Africa champions of women’s football.
After the brouhaha over promised bonuses that are yet to be paid, Limpopo announced that five players born in the province – who were part of the victorious Banyana Banyana Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) squad – each received an additional R100 000 bonus.
Bayana beat hosts Morocco 2-1 in the WAFCON final in Rabat on Saturday night, entitling them to bonuses of R400 000 each that the South African Football Association (Safa) promised.
Not to be outdone, Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation on Friday said it “will transfer R3,2 million towards Banyana Banyana and the development of grassroots female soccer”.
The department said in a statement that it “once again congratulates Banyana Banyana on the sterling job they did in representing the country”.
The department added: “As a province we had the honour to welcome them at OR Tambo International Airport with Minister Mthethwa, SAFA and SASOL leadership, surrounded by thousands of proud supporters, who woke at the crack of dawn to give our girls a hero’s welcome”.
Mthethwa, through the Sport, Arts, and Culture department, handed Banyana Banyana a cheque for R5,8 million.
“Appreciating and inspired by Minister Mthethwa’s contribution towards the team’s winnings, the province will add R1 million on top of his contribution for the benefit of the entire team,” said the Gauteng sport department.
Speaking after a celebration event on Wednesday for the champions, hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Union Buildings, SAFA president, Danny Jordaan, said he hoped the promised bonuses for Banyana Banyana would eventually reach the squad.
“Our plan is to continue to carve the pathway for women in sport, so they may experience the highest and greatest expression of their performance,” the department said on Friday.
“In this regard, our province has set aside R2,2 million towards our Gauteng-based Women National League teams. Who will share in the investment equally, and work together with the department to strengthen the development of female athletes.”
The prize money for the winner of the 2022 WAFCON edition was a mouth-watering sum of US$500,000 (R8,3 million) paid to the association in that country.
