Mounting Debts Threaten Women’s Football Development
According to verified documents obtained by our investigative team, sixteen women’s football teams in Gauteng province claim they haven’t received their allocated funding for three consecutive seasons (2023-2025). Each club is contractually entitled to R38,000 per season from SAFA, excluding performance-based prize money for league winners.
The financial strain has reached critical levels, with club officials revealing they’ve been forced to take out loans to cover basic operational costs. “We’ve reached breaking point,” stated one club chairperson who requested anonymity. “How can we develop women’s football when we’re constantly digging into personal savings to keep teams afloat?”
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Formal Complaints and Legal Threats
On March 20, eight clubs submitted a formal petition to SAFA Gauteng’s Provincial Executive Officer, Victor Raletjena, demanding immediate payment. A follow-up letter dated March 25 contained stronger language, threatening legal action if funds aren’t released within seven working days.
“The financial burden has become unsustainable, forcing clubs into debt just to cover basic matchday expenses. We’ve exhausted all diplomatic channels and now have no choice but to consider legal recourse to protect our rights.”
Breaking Down the Outstanding Payments
The clubs’ financial claims against SAFA include:
- Seasonal participation grants (R38,000 per club annually)
- Travel expense reimbursements for away matches
- Match appearance fees for players and officials
- Prize money for top-performing teams
- Badge and batch manufacturing costs
SAFA’s Response and Potential Fixture Boycott
In his March 29 response, Raletjena acknowledged receiving the complaint but stopped short of committing to specific payment dates. The provincial official confirmed the matter had been escalated to SAFA’s head office while warning clubs against fixture boycotts.
This financial dispute follows last week’s revelation that SAFA failed to provide adequate water supplies during the U20 national team’s training camp at Fun Valley Resort. Players reportedly endured unsanitary conditions for 48 hours due to neglected maintenance issues.
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Sponsor Expresses Concern Over Growing Crisis
Sasol, the league’s title sponsor, has broken its silence on the controversy. Company spokesperson Matebello Motloung stated:
“As passionate supporters of women’s football development, we’re deeply troubled by these financial irregularities. Our sponsorship funds are disbursed according to contractual agreements, and we expect all stakeholders to honor their financial commitments.”