Banyana Banyana co-captain Refiloe Jane has expressed her excitement about the R10 million bonus put on the table by SAFA as motivation for them to clinch the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) scheduled for Morocco next month.
The outgoing AC Milan star noted that they are happy that they can now concentrate on matters on the pitch without the distraction of unresolved off-the-field issues.
According to the South African football governing body, the R10 million is the highest amount ever paid to any national team, men and women.
Responding to the SAFA president after he made the bonus announcement at the team hotel in Parktown, Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon, Jane said: “You have always said that when we go to the tournament you want us to focus on just playing and we should sort out all issue that we have before the tournament.”
“Bonuses were one of the issues we had and for you to come and honour us [with a send-off at the team hotel] and give this promise is a motivation to the team.
“I know that besides the motivation of wanting to receive the money, we also want to go out there and represent our nation because we are not only representing ourselves but our families, friends and other players in other leagues.”
In that R10 million, the players will share R9,2 million should they emerge victorious at the much-awaited prestigious tournament, with the remaining R800 000 used for other costs related to the team’s travel and stay in Morocco in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, SAFA CEO Advocate Tebogo Motlanthe added that the players are so confident in making the country proud that they were only prepared to discuss winning the tournament.
“Let me emphasize that in our meeting with the players they said they were just looking at the first prize [winning the tournament],” stated Advocate Motlanthe
The competition commences on July 2 and will end on the 23rd of July 2022.
South Africa are pitted in Group C with Nigeria, Burundi and Botswana. Banyana will open its account against rivals Super Falcons on July 4 in Rabat.
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