SAFA election: Sandile Zungu demands Bafana Bafana bonuses are paid by Thursday

Sandile Zungu says SAFA officials responsible for unpaid World Cup bonuses owed to Bafana Bafana players and the technical team should consider themselves dismissed if the money is not in their accounts by Thursday.

Zungu is challenging Danny Jordaan for the presidency of the South African Football Association (SAFA), with the federation’s elective congress due to take place on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Monday, he promised a firm approach to the issue if he wins the election.

The comments follow a report by Sunday World claiming that Bafana Bafana players and members of the technical team have yet to receive bonuses linked to their World Cup campaign. It is understood that FIFA has already transferred the money to SAFA after South Africa progressed to the last 32 of the competition.

SAFA received $12m (R218m) from FIFA for participating in the group stages and reaching the last 32. That figure does not include a further $2.5m (R41m) preparation grant paid by world football’s governing body. Reports have suggested that each Bafana Bafana player is due approximately R2.5m.

Zungu said he was deeply critical of the reported delay and argued that those who represented South Africa should not have to ask for money that had already been promised to them. He also compared the situation with the payment practices at AmaZulu, where he is associated with the club.

“These are people who kept us awake at night because they were carrying our flag. It’s public knowledge that they were going to receive incentives if they progressed to certain stages. It’s public knowledge, it’s not a secret. People contracted to that and why a month after money was received are they now begging for what rightfully belongs to them. Why are we treating our athletes with such utter disrespect. In my opinion, it’s very embarrassing. Go to AmaZulu and ask any player who has played for AmaZulu or who plays for AmaZulu, if he ever gets paid a day later than the contracted date. If you one, give that ammunition to the opposition because then they can at least find something they can use against Sandile Zungu.

“On that note, I am throwing the gauntlet to the SAFA executives right now, to say if that money is not in the bank accounts of the Bafana Bafana players and in the bank accounts of the technical team of Bafana Bafana by close of business on Thursday…when I walk into that office, those who are culpable for that injustice will account. Let me repeat. That money that belongs to Bafana Bafana players and the technical team must be in the accounts of the deserving people by close of business on Thursday, the 10th. If it’s not, those who are complicit in that injustice will account when I move into that office as president of SAFA. They will consider themselves fired.”

Zungu’s warning places the disputed payments at the centre of the final days of the SAFA presidential contest. He said the money must reach both the players and the technical staff by close of business on Thursday, which he identified as the 10th.

The demand comes as he prepares to face Jordaan in Saturday’s vote, with Zungu making clear that he would hold SAFA executives accountable for any failure to pay the bonuses if he takes control of the federation.