9 May 2020 – The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) confirms that 18 Banyana Banyana players and 3 support staff members and some members of the Under 17 Women National team support staff have received the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture’s COVID-19 relief payments.
This assistance to our players and support staff could not have come at a better team. It is common knowledge that most of our women footballers are unemployed and rely on the remuneration from the Association and this remuneration is dependent on them participation in national team matches. Therefore, the suspension of all football activities in the country, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, means that our women footballers are not getting any income at all.
SAFA would like to thank the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Honourable Nathi Mthethwa for allocating funds to the COVID-19 Sport Relief Fund. This fund was timely and will make a huge difference in our players lives. Some of our players are breadwinners and these relief payments will not only benefit them, but their families.
SAFA submitted applications on behalf of the players and support staff of our national teams. The criteria for applications was “athletes / players who were confirmed to participate at events that have now been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, and whose income is generated solely through specific sporting events will be eligible for relief. They must provide proof that their events have been cancelled and their taxes must be in order. Coaches and technical support personnel must work with athletes whose sporting events have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19, and make their earnings solely from these events. They too must have their tax matters in order.”
The Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture paid the funds directly to the players and support staff.