By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, revealed that Bafana Bafana players will get $7-million (R130 million) if they win the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
Currently, the team is camping in Stellenbosch where they are preparing to play Lesotho on Wednesday in a build-up game.
Jordaan has clarified that it will be an all-or-nothing bonus situation for Hugo Broos’ team, who will be well rewarded if they win, but not to receive a bonus otherwise.
“I am here to make sure that every box has been ticked,” Jordaan told SAFA media
“There is nothing outstanding and that everything is in place for them to focus on football, deliver on football and give us the kind of performances that will make the nation take a deep breath and say we have a team.”
“We have to get the team to focus, we have to clear everything and if they win, they get $7 million. If they lose they get nothing. We want the team to focus and perform.
“We have over a period of time settled this team and we don’t want to waste time discussing unnecessary stuff.”
Broos has had mixed success with South Africa since taking the reins in 2021 but can point to a deserved 2-1 home win over World Cup semifinalists Morocco in the qualifiers in June, and a credible 1-1 friendly draw with Ivory Coast in October.
“I believe in the players who are here, I know their qualities,” he said. “And they showed that already against Morocco and Ivory Coast. That is South Africa, so let’s hope we can achieve that level again.”
The players have signed an agreement around tournament bonuses with the South African Football Association, always a thorny issue for African teams and one less thing for the coach to worry about.
“At one stage it was a little bit annoying,” Broos said. “Players were not happy because they were not paid. And I understand that.
“But I told them also, you can do only one thing and that is put in performances, then you go on the bargaining table and you are the strongest party. And they did it.”
South Africa will kick off their campaign against Mali at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on January 16 (10pm SA time).