Watch VideoSafa’s failures threaten South Africa’s football progress

Safa president Danny Jordaan continues to be subject of criticism as the association show no signs of growth. The South African Football Association (Safa) are their own worst enemy. They have mastered the art of being all talk and no action.

Safa have gloated about the national teams’ upward trajectory in recent months, with Banyana Banyana, Amajimbos, Amajita, and Bafana Bafana all qualifying for their respective World Cups. Yet, amid the celebrations, Safa have done little to support the feeder structures of these teams, watching them sweat on the pitch while basking in the glory of their hard work. Bafana Bafana’s B-team captain, Neo Maema, recently made a shocking revelation, claiming that the players have not been paid their money for competing at the last Chan tournament, which was hosted across Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya last year.

Maema spoke with confidence, stating that he knew CAF had already paid the funds to the mother body. This assertion is supported by the fact that CAF would not have staged AFCON late last year without clearing its financial obligations. Granted, Chan has since been removed from the continental calendar, with CAF president Patrice Motsepe suggesting it carried little significance. However, the fact remains that some players benefited from the tournament, using it as a springboard to national team or club breakthroughs.