Banyana Banyana has refused to play their scheduled friendly match against Botswana at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday.
To make matters worse, Botswana is not going to the World Cup and Banyana players feel they will not get the sort of competition they will need before the World Cup.
If Banyana don’t play this match, their last friendly before the World Cup will be against Costa Rica on 15 July in Christchurch. The South Americans, who will be heading to the World Cup unlike Botswana, however, have lost their last five matches in all competitions.
Argentina will just have one match against Peru before the group stages start.
Italy played one friendly, drawing against Morocco on Saturday. Sweden, who are one of the favourites to win the World Cup, will play three friendly matches – against Mexico, Japan and Canada before the start of the World Cup.
The only saving grace for Banyana is that Argentina, in three previous World Cup participations, has not won a single match, losing seven of nine matches, giving them a chance to get something.
According to SABC Sport, the South African women’s national football team set to compete in the 2023 FIFA World Cup desire a more fitting send off as they taken a stand against the chosen venue.
The players are insisting on a stadium with greater significance, preferably one that hosted matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Initially planned for a 15:00 kick-off, the match has now been postponed to a later time, starting at 16:00. The players’ dissatisfaction reached such a level that they even threatened to boycott the international friendly altogether. The Tsakane Stadium situated in Brakpan has a capacity of 5000 and has been in use since 2015. The Banyana players believe they deserve a more suitable and prestigious location to mark their journey towards the World Cup.
However, SAFA leadership has taken a firm stance in response to the players’ demand. They have made it clear that the team must honor the match or face the possibility of being sent home, putting the players in a precarious situation.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Zizi Kodwa, the Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, has issued a powerful statement, expressing his concerns and seeking a resolution.
