Smeda’s Message To SAFA On Banyana 

TS Galaxy Queens midfielder Leandra Smeda has urged SAFA to learn to fix things before major tournaments when it comes to Banyana Banyana.

Smeda, who has been capped 100 times by the senior national team, spoke to iDiski Times writer Lethabo Kganyago about a variety of matters at the just concluded WAFCON and effects of the team having to always fight ahead of tournaments. Banyana have had to strike ahead of major tournaments for outstanding payments, and bonuses.

Before the start of this year’s edition in Morocco, the players also downed tools for a bit to resolve late payments for international friendlies played earlier this year.

Smeda was asked how much all this affects players especially when they are in camp and the former UWC player said uncertainties are tough on players mentally, they spill into the preparations of games adding that the Association needs to start doing things differently.

“It affects the team a lot because now you are not just thinking about preparations for the games,” Smeda told iDiski Times.

“You are also thinking about all these other stuff. It has to do with money, because you go into a tournament not knowing whether you’re going to get any performance bonuses and all that. Sometimes when you are in the team, there’s a lot of young, new players, so everything for them is the first time. They don’t know these problems have been there. Now you have the senior players, and you have to accommodate them also. Sometimes they don’t want to get involved in all these things.

“So now it’s like the senior players doing this thing, and the younger ones are not sure what to do. So, it also affects them, especially the younger ones, because they don’t know what’s happening. You find the team maybe going on strike, and then they’re missing two or three days of training, that affects the preparation as well, physically and mentally.

“I don’t know. SAFA they must fix things before teams go into a tournament. But I don’t know when that will happen because it’s been like this for years.”

Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.