13 January 2023 – South African Football Association’s finances are healthy and in good standing.
At a media briefing held at SAFA House on Friday, (13 January 2023) SAFA CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe, CFO Mr Gronie Hluyo, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis and Technical Director Walter Steenbok addressed a wide range of issues that included state of the Association’s finances, the South African senior women’s team’s preparations for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand later this year, and the plans for the appointment of new coaches in the junior national teams, among others.
Advocate Motlanthe and Mr Hluyo emphasised that contrary to a wide held view, SAFA’s finances were in order with more funding earmarked for the current financial year.
Mr Hluyo said it was amazing that some critics constantly disregard the true picture of SAFA’s finances and continue to paint the Association in a negative light, and yet ‘we have had unqualified financial reports for the past 20 years.’’
‘’Unfortunately SAFA is not broke, its finances are well and very much in order and if there is any doubt, the media is free to check our financial reports on our website,’’ said CFO Hluyo.
‘’On top of that, SAFA has good governance structures comprising, among others, the Finance, Audit and Remuneration sub-committees. There is proper accountability within our finances, we have never failed to honour our obligations to our service providers and we pay our utility services on time. We have funding for all our competitions and national teams.
“With grants from FIFA both for operation and other projects, SAFA’s finances can only get better.”
The operational fund has been increased to US$1,5m (R21m) while the project fund for the full circle now stands at around R51m. Most of this portion will go towards the refurbishment of the SAFA National Technical Centre, at Fun Valley.
The continental football governing body, the Confederation of African (CAF), has also increased its annual funding for Member Associations to R17m annually while FIFA has given the Association R16m towards Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Hluyo said the Association had long-term sponsorship agreements with various corporate, which include the public broadcaster SABC, Multichoice (Showmax), Motsepe Foundation, Banxso and HollywoodBets among others. The Association was also busy negotiating with various other potential partners that include a banking institution and a motor vehicle company.
‘’So SAFA is on a sound financial footing,’’ said Hluyo.
Banyana Banyana coach Ellis said as part of the SASOL-sponsored South African senior women’s team’s preparations, the side will play in the Cyprus Cup in addition to a local and overseas camp in May and July.
SAFA Technical Director Steenbok also gave his 100-day report that included all national teams, coaching department, scouting and junior development for both men and women.
Steenbok said it was imperative for Bafana Bafana to qualify for the next AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast and SAFA was busy liaising with the Premier Soccer League to have a synchronised programme that will help the senior men’s national team’s cause.
He said in a bid to bolster Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup, the Association had appointed a highly qualified advisor to help in the technical aspect of the game.
SAFA had also appointed the scouting department headed by former Bafana Bafana legends David Nyathi and Aaron Mokoena.
Steenbok said with the help of FIFA’s Talent Development Scheme, his blueprint will underscore development from the bottom in which a selection of talented young boys and girls will form the basis of future national teams.
With regards to coaching education, he said SAFA had already produced over 25 000 coaches but will emphasise refresher courses for this year’s programme.
Advocate Motlanthe further revealed that CAF had hinted to SAFA that they would want South Africa to host the schools tournament this year.
He also told the media that FIFA had done away with football intermediaries and resorted back to agents who will have to write an examination to qualify.
With regards to equal payment for men and women, he said the process was a long and arduous one but that SAFA had made some remarkable strides. As things stand, both women and men’s daily allowances and bonuses were now the same.