Bafana Bafana’s impressive FIFA World Cup campaign has earned SAFA a financial windfall, with more than R100 million set to be invested in football development and administration.
SABC Sport’s Velile Mnyandu after the national team reached the last 32 of the tournament.
FIFA also paid SAFA a $2.5 million (R41 million) preparation grant before the competition.
MXOLISI SIBAM EXPLAINS SAFA’S PLAN
SAFA Finance Committee chairperson Mxolisi Sibam said the investment reflects the players’ desire to strengthen South African football rather than maximise their own financial rewards.
Sibam praised the Bafana Bafana squad for supporting long-term investment in the game.
“Ronwen Williams shared the same sentiment to say that the Bafana Bafana players don’t want all the money, what they want is to see us reinvest that money so that we can produce another Ronwen Williams. That money is going to be allocated right through the ecosystem of SAFA.”
According to the exchange rate used when FIFA paid the prize money, the players will share about R65 million. Each squad member is expected to receive around R2.5 million.
Head coach Hugo Broos will receive 10 percent of the prize money, worth approximately R21.8 million. Assistant coach Helman Mkhalele will receive five percent, which amounts to about R8 million.
The remaining members of the technical team will share two percent. SAFA will retain 50 percent after reaching an agreement with the players on the bonus structure.
PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE CLUBS ALSO BENEFIT
The financial rewards will extend beyond SAFA. Premier Soccer League clubs will also receive significant payments because of their contribution to the national team.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are each expected to receive more than R25 million after supplying eight players to the Bafana Bafana squad at the FIFA World Cup.
Sibam believes this proves the value of selecting players from the domestic league.
“The more we use players in the national team from our own league the more that will benefit both the association and the clubs, who will be receiving much needed money that will be reinvested to produce even more players that can be part of our squads.”
Bafana Bafana were one of the few nations at the tournament to field a squad made up entirely of players born in their home country. The team also competed strongly against nations ranked among the world’s top 30.
According to Sibam, those achievements highlight the quality of player development within the Premier Soccer League and South Africa’s private football academies.
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