BFA to use COSAFA money to clear debts
Mqondisi Dube | Tuesday June 28, 2016 15:38
A source said the association intends to take advantage of the COSAFA ‘windfall’ to clear what it owes the players.
“It will be profoundly wrong for the BFA to use the money to clear outstanding monies.
That will be unfair, as effectively the players will not be getting any reward for their work in Namibia,” the source said.
BFA chief executive officer, Kitso Kemoeng said the players will receive appearance fee and winning bonuses “at the usual rates”.
“We will see how far the prize money will take us in terms of our liabilities with the players.
We will certainly use it to clear (what we owe). We don’t have any other source (of money).
They (the players) are the people who generate the money, therefore they deserve a part,” Kemoeng said.
The Zebras missed out on the P500,000 first prize money after finishing as runners-up to South Africa in a controversial final on Saturday. Botswana lost 3-2 in a match marred by dubious officiating.
The players have in recent months, engaged in boycotts over unpaid allowances. The BFA has maintained it does not have the money to pay the players and has, on occasions, relied on government bail-out.
Meanwhile, there was silver lining in Zebras’ final defeat after rising Orapa United winger, Onkabetsi Mankgantai was voted as the player of the tournament after an outstanding campaign in Namibia.
He scored a beauty on Saturday with a looping effort which eluded South African goalkeeper, Riyaard Pieterse.
Scouts are expected to come knocking for a player who moved from Nico United last season and was instrumental in helping the Orapa side to their first Mascom Top 8 triumph, where he scored another brilliant looping effort in the final.