Some goodwill and cheer went a very long way on today’s South African Federation Association (SAFA) press conference at Hilton Hotel in Sandton, as ITHUBA pledged a sum of R2 Million Rands to Banyana Banyana as they about to embark on FIFA Women’s World Cup.
This comes after a disagreement between the Banyana squad and (Safa) regarding player pay at the upcoming World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
The payment debacle boiled to the point that the squad failed to represent the nation against Bostwane on Sunday to play their World Cup send-off game at Tsakane Stadium in Ekurhuleni.
The selected players were on the grandstand while the last-minute called players lost 5-0, signaling a concern before World Cup.
ITHUBA, South Africa’s proud National Lottery Operator, Head of Marketing Michelle van Trostsenburg, joined by SAFA President Danny Jordaan, announced to the media members that a sum of R2 Million will be pledged to reaffirm their unwavering commitment to equal opportunity.
Michelle van Trostsenburg expressed that Ithuba is dedicated to ensuring women are given equal pay and support in sports.
“Mrs Charmaine Mabuza, CEO of ITHUBA, has significantly contributed to instilling equal opportunity in South Africa through her impactful Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects, creating opportunities for women to thrive in various sectors by providing education, skills training, and entrepreneurship support. Her unwavering commitment has transformed countless lives, empowering women to break barriers, achieve economic independence, and become catalysts for positive change in their communities,’’ she said.
The Banyana Banyana squad was encouraged by Michelle van Trostsenburg’s words, wishing them the best of luck.
‘’We believe in your abilities, strength, and collective power to inspire millions of aspiring young football players in our country,” added Van Trostsenburg.