Jordaan calls for support for Banyana
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.
“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 rands annually for their training and upkeep.”
He took issue with corporations and individuals 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 team instead of giving them a one-off incentive.
He insisted that the commercial support for women’s sport was in crisis, 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.”
Jordaan reiterated his call this year that Safa had made a bid for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup. He asked Safa to consider hosting the 2019 Afcon tournament after CAF stripped Cameroon of the rights to host the tournament.
Jordaan said Safa would make the bid, but would consult the government first to motivate a business case. Government would have the final say. – African News Agency (ANA)