Jordaan claims credit for Banyana’s Women’s Afcon silver medal

THE SA FOOTBALL Association (Safa) has claimed credit for Banyana Banyana’s silver medal performance after losing to Nigeria in the Women’s African Cup of Nations tournament in Ghana on Saturday.

Hosting a Safa AGM in Johannesburg on Sunday, president Danny Jordaan told the congress that unlike some perceptions from certain quarters, the good performance by Banyana was not by accident but a result of proper planning by the association.

“We as Safa produced these girls. They did not drop from the sky. Most come from the High Performance Centre where we spend millions of Rand annually for their training and upkeep,” he said.

Jordaan also took issue with corporations and individuals who were riding on Banyana’s good performance by pledging some cash incentives which he argued was unsustainable and insincere.

He said the corporate sector must come on board and sponsor the girls instead of giving them a once-off incentive.

He argued that Banyana’s was not a charity case and insisted that the commercial support for women’s sport was in a crisis whether in rugby, cricket or any other sport adding this should not be consigned to a Twitter or social media debate.

“We support the idea that women should get proper compensation, but corporate and broadcasters must come on board,” he added.

Safa had earlier rebuffed a onceoff R100 000 pledge from insurance company MiWay towards the successful Banyana Banyana side for their exploits at the championship‚ saying they are seeking only longterm partners for the side.

Acting Safa CEO Russell Paul says that while they are appreciative of the MiWay offer‚ it is not the kind of help they need for the women’s national side.

“By turning the offer down we are saying that while we are appreciative of people making these kinds of offers‚ women’s football can do without handouts‚ they need sustainable offers of support.”