Dear Mr President,

I’m greeting you in the spirit of the Africa Renaissance. Mr President much has been said and written about you and Banyana Banyana players prior to the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

This was regarding bonuses among the issues, I was told. TOUCHLINE wants to take this opportunity, to engage you following Banyana Banyana’s history to proceed to the knockout stage of the tournament, a feat that even Bafana Bafana has never achieved but anyhow they would still receive huge bonuses.

What Banyana Banyana players fought for was justifiable after they made history to qualify for the last sixteen of this prestigious world women’s tournament beating Italy 3-2. This was a historical moment not only for SAFA, but African football.

My Dear, President, it is high time that those girls get the same treatment that their men counterparts, in this case, Bafana Bafana, otherwise known as “Wafana Wafana”, enjoy even though they underperform.

This is not a personal attack on you but I am just stating FACTS!

For too long now women’s football has been taken for granted in this country despite their achievement in the continental competitions. TOUCHLINE is one of the few journalists who has promoted women’s football in this country with Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis was still a player. This was during the days when women’s football was sponsored by Sanlam and Vodacom with their league knowns as the Women’s Soccer League and Vodacom Women’s Soccer’s League.

Yours truly,  the Self-Appointed Minister of Sports, used to travel the country to cover women’s soccer league and women’s national Play-offs.

The issues of bonuses were blown out of proportion and for those girls, the only thing they asked for was to be treated equally, the same as Bafana Bafana. They didn’t ask to be treated differently but as part of SAFA and not stepchildren of your organization.

Believe me, when I say, TOUCHLINE is one of the few sports journalists who were instrumental in promoting women’s football in this country. In case you’re not aware, I was awarded by your organization for promoting women’s football in this country.

TOUCHLINE challenges you and your organization to give Banyana Banyana the same treatment you give to Bafana Bafana not just because they happened to proceed to the last sixteen of the World Cup. They have done this before when they were crowned the African queens which led them to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Dear President, TOUCHLINE hopes you will receive this letter in order, and thanks in advance for your response.

I thank you!

Yours In Football, Self-Appointed Minister Of Football,

Touchline.