Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has had his say on the problems that always arise when the national team has to discuss bonus matters with the South African football governing body, SAFA.
The two parties recently signed an agreement ahead of the upcoming 2023 CAF AFCON tournament due to be held in Ivory Coast.
The competition will kick off from Saturday 13 January to Sunday 11 February 2024.
Broos’ charges assembled for camp on Thursday, 4 January 2024. Bafana face Lesotho in a training match behind closed doors at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday, 10 January 2024.
They will depart for Ivory Coast on Thursday, 11 January 2024 for the much-awaited AFCON tournament.
HUGO BROOS WEIGHS IN ON BAFANA BONUSES WITH SAFA
The Belgian mentor did not beat around the bush when expressing his views on why there are always problems when the national team and the Association have to discuss bonuses ahead of big tournaments like AFCON.
“You know, two months or three months ago, everybody said there’s again the conversation between players and the SAFA about bonuses,” said Hugo Broos.
“I’m sure in football every time you have to discuss bonuses there’s a problem. The one who has to give it wants to give as little as possible. And the one to receive it wants to have as much as possible.
“But at the end, there’s always an agreement. And you see what happens here, at that moment was like little bit annoying. Players were not happy because they were not paid and I understand that.”
The 71-year-old coach went on to reveal what he had told his players to make things easier when they have to discuss with the Association about bonuses.
“But, I told them also that you can all do one thing which is performances. And then you go to the table and you are the strongest party, and they did it. They won against Congo and did a very good game in Ivory Coast,” he added.
“There’s never a very big problem but it’s every time a problem and it’s not only in national teams. I had the same problem when I was coached and a player for a club. This is normal. For me, it wasn’t a problem at that moment, but it was just a little bit annoying that it happened.”
DANNY JORDAAN DENIES $7 MILLION BONUS FOR BAFANA
In a turn of events, SAFA president Dr Danny Jordaan has come forward to say the Association did not promise Bafana $7 million [R131 million] in bonuses, citing that he was misquoted.
Jordaan reckons that he said that CAF has increased the prize money to $7 million [R130 million]. Therefore, the $7 million is allocated to the winner of the AFCON tournament, not the other way around.
“I did not say that the players will share $7 million. All I was saying regarding the bonuses is that CAF has increased prize money to $7 million. That’s the money allocated to the winner of AFCON,” said SAFA president on Radio 2000 on Monday night.
“I’m surprised to now see headlines saying SAFA is giving players the 7 million dollars.”
RELATED STORY: SAFA president reveals AFCON bonus for Bafana players
