Could Bafana Bafana bonus battle threaten AFCON 2023 build-up?

South Africa players during Bafana Bafana training and press conference at FNB Stadium — Credit: Icon sport

As South Africa's national football team, Bafana Bafana, gears up for a friendly match against Eswatini, the headlines are not dominated by the excitement of the game.

Instead, rather by an ongoing bonus pay dispute between the players and the South African Football Association (SAFA).

The situation has left the team's head coach, Hugo Broos, facing the daunting task of keeping his players focused amidst the brewing tension.

Much like their female counterparts, Banyana Banyana, who faced a similar bonus payment dispute before the Women's World Cup earlier this year, Bafana Bafana finds themselves embroiled in financial disagreements ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

This discord raises questions about how it might affect the team's preparation and performance.

Bonus disputes on the rise

South Africa boasts a commendable record at FNB Stadium, however, the harmony within the team seems to have been disrupted since the recent friendlies against Namibia and DR Congo.

Coach Broos candidly admitted, “I can't deny it. There are problems at the moment.”

The primary issue revolves around bonus payments. Such disputes frequently rear their heads when significant tournaments are on the horizon.

Players, in their quest for fair compensation, engage in discussions with the football association, leading to complex negotiations.

Broos acknowledged the inevitability of these disputes, stating, “It's always a discussion.”

The coach's experience has taught him that, eventually, an agreement will be reached, although the current discussions appear less than favorable for the players.

Amidst these talks, the timing is less than ideal, with the AFCON preparations on the immediate horizon.

Broos hopes that these disputes will not adversely affect the players' performance, though the distraction is far from ideal.

African football and bonuses! It never ends, does it? Bafana Bafana and SAFA in a bonus-related stand-off ahead of #AFCON2023 tournament in January. Bafana face Namibia, Mali and Tunisia in group E. pic.twitter.com/dMODW1Yn9U

— The South African Morning (@TheSAMorning) October 13, 2023

He commented, “It's not really motivating that we have this before our game tomorrow and the trip to Ivory Coast. I hope this will not affect the players' performance.”

He added that bonus payment disputes are not unique to Bafana Bafana and South Africa but rather a common occurrence on the international football scene, especially when significant tournaments are looming.

“It happens everywhere, and certainly when big tournaments are coming,” Broos remarked.

However, he also acknowledges the need for timing, stating, “Maybe now the moment is not really right.

I will try to talk to the players to put it out of their heads as well as next week. I have to be fair, that's all, to see who is right and who is not. I am the guy in-between.”

The resolution of these disputes becomes a matter of urgency for Broos, as they could potentially affect the team's preparation and unity ahead of the AFCON.

As the head coach, he bears the responsibility of ensuring that such distractions do not hinder the team's performance on the pitch.

In the weeks leading up to the tournament, all stakeholders, including the players, SAFA, and the coaching staff, must find common ground.

It remains to be seen how these discussions will unfold, and whether they will have any bearing on Bafana Bafana's quest for success in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.

The national team and its football association must navigate the choppy waters of bonus disputes to ensure that the focus remains on the beautiful game.

As the saying goes, “A team divided against itself cannot stand.”