Panyaza Lesufi Confirms SAFA NEC Wanted to Expel Banyana Banyana Players!

Panyaza Lesufi Confirms SAFA NEC Wanted to Expel Banyana Banyana Players! This is after the ladies boycotted last weekend.

The Banyana Banyana players boycotted their farewell match against Botswana over the weekend. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi revealed that SAFA NEC members wanted to get rid of these players.

The Banyana squad was boycotting because of financial issues which needed to be discussed ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

After the debacle, some members of the SAFA NEC wanted to expel these players from the travelling squad. This is when Lesufi had to intervene and find solutions.

“The players completely reject SAFA NEC, who took the decision that the ladies should be immediately expelled and leave the camp,” said Lesufi.

“SAFA convened an emergency NEC meeting because never in the history of football has the home team failed to pitch the game. They needed to protect that, also there are penalties that if the home team doesn’t honour its contract, the penalty range around $250,000 (R5 million) and they felt that they needed to protect that.

“Thirdly, Botswana was already here. So, they [SAFA] can’t disrespect another country and they needed to put in an alternative team so the brand of our country, the brand of Banyana, is protected.

“But there are areas they [players] felt that needed to be clarified: one, the choice of Tsakane Stadium was not a choice because there were other alternatives.

“They felt the game should have been taken to Mbombela Stadium, when they realised that other stadiums are not available since the team is leaving on Wednesday.

“For them to leave here and go to Mbombela and come back doesn’t make economic sense [to SAFA] and it was only on Friday when the issue was raised, and logistical arrangements were already made.”   

Issues with the national team were finally resolved yesterday. Panyaza Lesufi Confirms SAFA NEC Wanted to Expel Banyana Banyana Players!