Cape Town – Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, has called for calm following the refusal of Banyana Banyana players to play against Botswana at the Tsakane Stadium on Sunday.
The national women’s football team expressed concerns about the poor condition of the playing field and raised issues related to salary disputes.
Banyana Banyana (The Girls) said the match venue in the Tsakane township, 50km (31 miles) southeast of Johannesburg, was unsuitable for international football.
They believed playing on a surface of clay and grass could lead to injuries, and rule them out of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand from July 20.
Banyana also wanted to play their final preparatory game before flying to Oceania at a more prestigious venue like Soccer City in Johannesburg or Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
According to EWN, Kodwa urged the team to rather focus on the upcoming world cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
“The minister has been in contact with the president of Safa [the South African Football Association], Dr Danny Jordaan, and have received written communication from Sapfu [the South African Football Players Unions].
“In the meantime, the minister urges the team to be focused on the major task that lies ahead, of taking every opportunity to prepare, participate, and display their immense skill and talent on one of the biggest sporting showcases in the world,” the report quoted spokesperson Litha Mpondwana as saying.
Kodwa would be meeting with Safa and Sapfu on Tuesday to address the problems, Mpondwana said.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/ @Cellular_jnr
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