Tensions and Dispute: The highly anticipated Send-forth International friendly match between the South Africa senior women’s football team, Banyana Banyana, and Botswana turned into a national embarrassment for South Africa soccer fans.
The match took place at Tsakane Stadium in East Rand, South Africa
A report by Reuters News Agency on the match revealed that an inexperienced and poorly organized South African national women’s football team, including a 13-year-old player, faced off against Botswana in the international friendly and suffered a disappointing 5-0 loss.
The South African women’s football team encountered a national embarrassment when their main team declined to play the friendly game.
As a result, they had to rely on a makeshift team that suffered the heavy defeat against Botswana.
This defeat came amidst a dispute between the World Cup-bound Banyana Banyana team and the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) over bonus payments and contractual issues related to their participation in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Banyana Banyana’s coach, Desiree Ellis, acknowledged the tensions behind the scenes but assured that the national senior women’s team would engage in discussions with SAFA to resolve the issues.
The South African Sport Minister, Zizi Kadwa, released a statement urging all parties involved to find a peaceful solution to the ongoing problems.
He also pledged to meet with the players’ union and SAFA on Tuesday to address matters concerning the government’s commitment, support, and the team’s working conditions, welfare, and health.
This meeting aims to address concerns about transparency and accountability in relation to contract signings.
Following the conclusion of their training camp, Banyana Banyana is scheduled to play a friendly match against Costa Rica on July 15, 2023, at Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand.
This whole Banyana Bayana situation is not only embarrassing but sad too
We are weeks away from the FIFA World Cup and this is happening???
Makes the nation look amateur ????
Hope the ladies and Danny Jordaan can fix this#BanyanaBanyana #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/tMpU3Ratna
— Shakes Rampedi (@ShakesRampedi) July 2, 2023
The team has been placed in Group G alongside Sweden, Italy, and Argentina for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will commence on July 20, 2023, and conclude on August 20, 2023.
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