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Safa is going all out to ensure adequate preparations for South Africa’s World Cup-bound national teams.
It has projected it will cost a combined R30 million to prepare Amajita (the Under-20 team) and Banyana Banyana ahead of their global championships, which kick off in May and June, respectively.
Safa acting chief executive Russell Paul spelt out the plans and expenditure for the two teams, as well as the status on the proposed National Women’s League.
Banyana are already midway into their training ahead of their debut at the Women’s World Cup in France; Amajita will gather in April to shape up for their fourth appearance at the Under-20 World Cup.
“Just on Banyana alone, it is R20 million for their preparations, and it’s about R10 million for Amajita. We have to go and find that money,” Paul told City Press on Friday.
He did not give a breakdown of the figures, but indicated that the money would cover travel, accommodation, the hiring of facilities, player allowances and payments for supporting personnel, such as physiotherapists and doctors.
The Under-20 competition will run from May 23 to June 15 in Poland; the senior women’s tournament will take place in France from June 7 to July 7.
“Banyana have been playing since January. They are going to play against the US [on May 12] and they’ll play Jamaica in a farewell match in Durban on April 7,” said Paul, adding that Safa would foot the bill for Jamaica in a game that would coincide with the Women’s World Cup trophy tour.
“We plan and we budget for the team to participate and to progress, but, as soon as we win and qualify, the budget changes. Now Amajita need to go into camp and we must assist them the same way we did for Banyana.”
Paul said the proposed warm-up matches for both teams were strategically aligned with their respective World Cup draws.
Banyana had been drawn in the group with Spain, China and Germany, while Amajita would face Portugal, Korea Republic and Argentina in Poland.
Banyana, who played the Netherlands and Sweden in January, are involved in the Cyprus Cup.
Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges lost 4-1 to Korea Republic on Friday after holding Finland to a 2-all draw in their opening game.
They face the Czech Republic today in their final group match of the 12-nation tournament.
Paul said Safa did not necessarily have the funds, but “we are doing it because we can’t sit back and say there aren’t sponsors and we can’t send the teams away”.
He said Safa was spending the money, but it needed financial support.
“We ask ourselves: why don’t businesses put their money where their mouths are?
“Why do they shout when the team does well and, when the team does badly, they say that’s because Safa does nothing, but they [business] are not coming to the party.”
Senong outlines Amajita’s preparations
Amajita head coach Thabo Senong revealed on Friday that the team’s preparation programme would start this month, but the process would be dedicated mainly to scouting and player monitoring.
“We’ll start phase one of our preparation camp on April 1. The plan is to either camp in Spain or Poland, and get in two friendly matches,” Senong said.
The final preparation camp would be staged in Poland on May 2, and Ukraine had already agreed to play Amajita in a friendly match on May 18, he said.
Senong said Safa was working on getting games with Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay and another European team.
Senong revealed that he would be visiting clubs “to discuss players who are already in the set-up and who may be the players we missed in the previous camps”.
“Equal respect and opportunities must be given to the players for a chance to challenge for a spot in the team,” he said, adding that some of the visits would be abroad to monitor players like France-based striker Lyle Foster at Monaco.
Senong and Paul know that they could encounter difficulties as some clubs will be reluctant to release players for the camps because there is no obligation to do so.
The leagues are in the crucial stages of the season, with teams either chasing championships or battling relegation.
Paul said: “It is one of the issues we raised with Fifa when we were in Zurich two weeks ago – it needs to give consideration to youth tournaments going forward.
“In theory, there is no obligation to release players other than patriotism.”
Senong pointed out that the World Cup was an ideal platform for players to develop and also be spotted by international scouts.
“We are drawn in a good group because, when you want to develop, it’s always important to play against the best nations in the world.
“Argentina, Portugal and Korea will give us the needed challenge so that we can measure ourselves,” said Senong.
With or without a sponsor, the planned Women’s League show must go on
Despite the newfound interest in local women’s football, not a single potential sponsor has come forward, according to Paul.
But, he said, with or without a sponsor, the planned league would go ahead.
The league was initially set to launch next month, but, due to the Women’s World Cup, it was postponed to August to coincide with Women’s Month.
Paul told City Press that Safa made an application to the Fifa Legacy Trust and was hoping for a favourable response.
“We have made an application, but they are already helping us in some ways with the Under-13 and Under-15 leagues, as well as with the women’s regional league.”
The department of sport has pledged R5 million over three years for the league, but a proper competitive women’s league would need R100 million a year to run properly, said Paul.
“The R100 million will allow us to be able to pay the coaches and players, as well as deal with the marketing, broadcasting and cost of venues. The next best is R40 million, but we would have to remove some of the things mentioned above,” he said.
“When you take it down to R20 million, it’s literally just dealing with travel and accommodation, and the clubs will have to deal with the rest. But, with or without a sponsor, the league will go on.”
