SAFA Announce R2.9 Miliion Loss As SAB Relationship Ends

During its recent ordinary congress, the South African Football Association (SAFA) reported a minimal loss of R2.9m for 2022. According to SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe, the organization plans to appoint permanent junior national team coaches and announce a new sponsorship for Bafana Bafana and the fourth division soon. Motlanthe explained, “The CFO [Gronie Hluyo] explained we have incurred a R2.9m loss. As a norm our finances will be published so if people have questions from those finances they can feel free to contact us.” Sondlo Accountants, who deal with SAFA’s books, said they found nothing wrong.

SAFA expects a financial boost with the announcement of a new sponsor for Bafana Bafana. South African Breweries’ sponsorship of Bafana was reduced from a title sponsorship earlier this year. Motlanthe said, “The emphasis even from the NEC [national executive committee] is to come with new ways of generating income. The CFO has put [forward] many proposals and the NEC has put an ad hoc committee together to say, ‘Make this into a concrete plan’. We will be announcing two key sponsors, one for Bafana and one for the regional leagues [fourth division]. But the mandate is to not only look at traditional sponsorships.”

Motlanthe also mentioned that SAFA wants to address the low income it receives from its deal with the SABC. He said, “Most of you [the media] have asked about the issue of junior coaches. We have addressed the matter of junior coaches — it is just a matter of the TD saying which coach he wants. We want a head of junior coaches, but we need to get permanent people dealing with the junior teams. We have already advertised for a women’s football manager and should make that appointment soon.”

During the congress, SAFA’s technical director Walter Steenbok presented his national developmental plan. Motlanthe said, “Once it is adopted by the NEC he will come back and address it with you [the media]. It speaks about the planning of football from the junior ranks up to the Under-23s. Also his preferred organigram [was presented], which we are going to [discuss further], but we have all agreed it is high time the focus changes now goes to the technical [side of the organisation].”