CAF President Patrice Motsepe through his Motsepe Foundation has saved SAFA's blushes by donating millions of rands to settle a tense financial dispute with the World Cup-bound Banyana Banyana.
Co-founder Precious Moloi-Motsepe, partner of Patrice announced on Wednesday that the Motsepe Foundation would be donating R6 million with each player receiving R230 000.
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The financial gesture brings an end to a tense stand-off between the football association and Desiree Ellis' Banyana squad over their FIFA-allocated bonus structure.
The FIFA guidelines made clear that each player participating in the 2023 World Cup group stages are guaranteed $30 000 (over R560 000).
The Motsepe Foundation's financial donation will now ensure that each player will receive that due amount ahead of departing for the Australasian tournament to be hosted in Australia and New Zealand.
"These are our champions. They sweat, and they bleed for us. We need to treat them as such. We pay lip service to gender quality, and when he come to the action part, we don't do so," Moloi-Motsepe told journalists.
"Sports reveals the challenges, like income equality. We will forever talk about lack of opportunity and gender-based violence. We talk about these things at all levels and these are issues that are faced by all of our players.
"Banyana Banyana are going to the World Cup, and we should all be proud of that."
SAFA president Danny Jordaan admitted that the association had acted too slowly in finalising the Banayana squad's payment structure.
"As SAFA, we recognise the issue and the contract negotiations started too late," Jordaan said.
"We need to start them earlier. When a preliminary squad is announced, everything should be in place. Contractual issues must be dealt with earlier.
"We want to assure that the issues that arose from this process and there are two other companies who want to assist. We hope to conclude things, but we'll honour our commitments.
"I want to thank the coach for her tolerance and understanding because it was a difficult matter to deal with.
"We want to see the Moroccan spirit in you in the World Cup. We want you to make Africa proud at the World Cup. The nation and SAFA are behind you."
Banyana get their World Cup campaign under way with a Group B opener against Sweden on 23 July at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
Kick-off is at 06:00 (SA time).
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