By Our Correspondent With Agency Report

Three Weeks after winning their first ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON, the South Africa Football Association, SAFA have paid the entire 23 players if the senior women national team, the Banyana Banyana their tournament bonuses.

SAFA confirmed on Friday that all 23 Banyana Banyana players have been paid their bonuses for winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last month.

SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said the agreed deadline for payment with the players was within 30 days after the triumph and the Association has kept its commitment.

“The payment was supposed to be done within 30 days of them winning the title and SAFA has undertaken and fulfilled that commitment,’’ said Dr Jordaan at a Press Conference at SAFA House on Friday (12 August 2022).

SAFA’s finance manager Gift Sekonde confirmed that payments were done on Friday morning, adding that the Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s funding pledge would be an addition to the payment made by the Association.

The Press Conference was attended by Banyana Banyana star striker Thembi Kgatlana who confirmed that the payment had been done.Also in attendance were Kglatlana’s mother, and NEC Members Pius Nqandela, Linda Zwane and Job Mchunu.

Kgatlana, who left the WAFCON tournament early in Morocco after sustaining an injury, paid tribute to sponsors SASOL and Hollywood Bets for being at the forefront of bankrolling women’s football. She also lauded the High Performance Centre (HPC) for being the bedrock of the current formidable Banyana Banyana team.

Mr Jordaan said SAFA with the help of the 2010 Legacy Trust had ploughed in a massive R300m towards women football’s developments and the fruits were there for all to see.

The SAFA President also spoke on the issue of the ongoing discrepancy of payments between men and women, saying the issue was a challenge that the Association was busy attending to.