Safa demands answers from former Bafana Bafana manager over missing R700,000 receipts

Former Bafana Bafana team manager Vincent Tseka has been given until Monday, 31 August, to account for R700,000 spent on the national team’s daily sundries during the recent FIFA World Cup.

South African Football Association (Safa) officials reportedly ordered Tseka to produce receipts for the expenditure after he failed to provide them. Tseka has asked for additional time to locate the missing documentation.

His contract ended in July, although he is reportedly still involved with Safa.

The latest dispute adds to a series of controversies linked to Tseka’s time as Bafana Bafana team manager. His responsibilities included monitoring player disciplinary records and overseeing travel and logistical arrangements.

Tseka was also seen alongside sport minister Gayton McKenzie during the FIFA World Cup 2026 South Africa Homecoming event at OR Tambo International Airport.

The financial query comes after a difficult period for Bafana Bafana, who secured their place at the World Cup finals in North America only after overcoming a significant setback in qualifying.

The team had been docked three points and awarded a 3-0 forfeit defeat for fielding Teboho Mokoena, who was ineligible to play in a home qualifier against Lesotho. Bafana then had to win their final qualifier to confirm their place at the tournament.

Tseka was responsible for tracking players’ yellow cards. He said he had failed to realise that Mokoena was suspended because he had left the stadium to obtain ice for the team. He also said that neither Mokoena nor anyone else had informed him of the suspension.

The team later faced another logistical problem before leaving for the World Cup. Several players and members of the technical staff did not have the visas needed to board the flight to Mexico, leaving the squad stranded at OR Tambo International Airport.

As team manager, Tseka was responsible for travel arrangements and accepted blame for the delay. Government officials and other external stakeholders eventually intervened to help ensure the complete squad could travel.

Previous incidents involving Tseka

Tseka also received a red card during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Liberia. Some supporters believed he had been attempting to defend the team, but the experienced administrator was expected to meet the usual standards of discipline and sportsmanship.

The incident in Monrovia was the first occasion on which Tseka attracted widespread criticism under head coach Hugo Broos. It proved to be an early indication of further problems during his tenure.

In 2022, Broos arrived at Dobsonville Stadium for a scheduled training session ahead of a friendly against Sierra Leone, only to find the venue locked and without branding.

It subsequently emerged that Tseka had not booked the stadium in time. The error meant Bafana Bafana lost an important day of preparation.

The team’s preparations were disrupted again after qualifying for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Tseka reportedly failed to reserve the High Performance Centre in Pretoria for the squad’s pre-tournament camp.

Officials were forced to make a last-minute booking at a training facility in Stellenbosch. The change was ultimately viewed positively by Broos after Bafana Bafana finished third at the tournament.

The latest request for receipts leaves Tseka facing renewed scrutiny as Safa seeks an explanation for the R700,000 in World Cup-related spending.