The South African Football Association (SAFA) wrapped up its ordinary congress on Sunday, where amongst issues such as the snub from the Premier Soccer League, football’s mother body reported a net loss of R2.9 million for the 2022 financial year.
SAFA CEO Tebogo Motlanthe also confirmed that the organisation had resolved to appoint permanent junior national team coaches, which have been lacking in recent years.
The organisation is further set to announce a new sponsorship for the men’s senior national team and the possibility of a 4th division league.
Although confirmed successful, the three-day event was overshadowed by the Premier Soccer League’s absence from the conference, which is tasked with shaping the future of local football.
Also, the financial loss incurred in the previous financial year was an obvious point of concern.
“In 2022 we did not have a congress, so today’s congress was covering the 2022 financial year. People have been asking about our finances. The financial officer has informed everyone together with the finance committee that we have incurred a R2.2 million financial loss. As a norm our finances will be publicised, if people have questions about them they must feel free to contact us,” Motlanthe says.
Also on the table was a re-look at the broadcast agreement SAFA has with the public broadcaster the SABC.
He adds, “One of the issues which were key is that broadcasting is not what it supposed to be, it is not what used to be because we have from a certain amount to a very low amount. so we know that our broadcasting agreement is coming to an end in September, so we need to go there and argue our case. so that was the congress.
‘Balancing act’
It is no secret that the national broadcaster can not compete with the deep pockets of pay television. SAFA says whilst there’s a balancing act that needs to be played, something needs to give.
“If there is a pay channel that says I am interested in your properties, we should be able to sell that property to them and not close off anything. But of course, we know and support that our people must watch national teams, but it must not be to our detriment of us. We are not saying we are serving divorce papers with the national broadcaster but we are saying the national broadcaster also be reasonable, you can’t move from the amount you have moved to what you are today,” explains SAFA president.
Another highlight of the congress was the overwhelming endorsement of all the members, that South Africa must bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
