Banyana Banyana continue to be celebrated after the team’s long-time sponsors SASOL awarded a R5,550 000 bonus to the recently crowned Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions on Thursday.
This comes just days after Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa announced that Government would award R15 million to the South African senior women’s national team as a bonus for winning the WAFCON last month. The players have already confirmed that the R9,2 million bonus they were promised by SAFA before the start of the tournament has been deposited into their accounts.
SASOL celebrated the African champions at a function held at the company’s headquarters in Sandton on Thursday and SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan said Banyana Banyana must be given a chance to face stiff opposition as the side continues to prepare for the Women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand next year.
“If we want to maintain the quality, level and performance of Banyana Banyana, we have to broaden the base and also give the team more opportunities,” the SAFA President said.
“Now that they have conquered Africa, in the World Cup next year, they will not play against any African teams. So they must play against South America teams, North African teams, European teams and Asian teams.
“This is where we are going to focus. They cannot play against these countries for the first time when they go to the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year. So preparation for the World Cup is very important.
“We want the team to perform because we want to discuss with government that after the 2023 tournament, the next World Cup is in 2027. We then want to raise the question of, we have the infrastructure, what about hosting the World Cup in South in 2027. Unlike when we hosted the men’s World Cup in 2010, our team Bafana Bafana was ranked 86th in the world.
“We hope when we host the Women’s World Cup, the team is already No2 on the African continent – in fact, they should be No1. And by 2026 for the World Cup 2027, they must be in the top 10 because then they will be real contenders on home soil. This is where we are focusing and this is where we want to go.”
SASOL’s Executive Vice President: Human Resources and Stakeholder Relations Charlotte Mokoena said they would continue to be staunch supporters of Banyana Banyana.
“We believe in you because you believe in yourselves.”
SOURCED FROM THE SAFA WEBSITE.
