Kaizer Chiefs left-back Bradley Cross is set to earn the club a significant financial boost after becoming the only Amakhosi player to represent South Africa at the FIFA World Cup.
Although the 25-year-old did not feature during the tournament, his inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad that reached the Round of 32 means Chiefs will benefit through FIFA’s Club Benefits Programme.
Amakhosi are expected to receive an estimated R6.4 million (around USD 350,000) from FIFA. Under the programme, clubs are compensated for releasing players to the World Cup, with the amount increasing depending on how far a national team progresses in the competition.
Initially, Chiefs were in line to receive around R2.4 million for Cross’ participation during the group stage. Bafana Bafana’s progression to the knockout rounds, however, has substantially increased the payout.
Cross joined Kaizer Chiefs after establishing himself as one of the country’s promising left-backs during his time at Golden Arrows.
Before returning to South African football, he spent time in the youth ranks of English club Newcastle United. Although he never played a competitive game for The Magpies, his experience in their development structure made him a solid left-back upon his return to his birth country.
Former Kaizer Chiefs assistant coach Cedric Kaze believes Cross’ World Cup experience will be invaluable to the club, describing him as a player who can pass on the lessons learned from competing on football’s biggest stage.
While Amakhosi will welcome the unexpected financial windfall, they will also hope Cross can use the experience gained with Bafana Bafana to make an even bigger impact for the Soweto giants in the upcoming season.
Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach tips Cross to lift the club
“I will say the World Cup is an event that comes after four years, and it’s the most beautiful world event above all the other sports,” Kaze told FARPost.
“I’m pretty sure that the experience that he [Cross] is going to get from this World Cup, the confidence that he is going to come back with, the self-belief, and to have been able to be in this squad, at this competition, even if he did not play, will help him as well as his club”
Kaizer Chiefs are currently in pre-season training in Spain and will kick off the season in two weeks’ time.
