On Saturday, South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Tebogo
Motlanthe addressed the media regarding Banyana Banyana’s trip to Turkey
amidst the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has reportedly claimed the
lives of around 40 000 people.
Motlanthe explained that the trip was necessary for the team’s preparation
for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. He said that they had done their “due
diligence” after engaging with FIFA and the organizers of the tournament
to ensure the safety of the team.
“The issue of Banyana playing in Turkey, I know most of you wanted
interviews and I was not giving interviews for a reason that we did not
want to scare the players,” Motlanthe said in a press conference.
“But the procedure that we have followed, 1, as you know the team was
supposed to be playing in Cyprus, in a Cyprus Cup and later Cyprus decided
to trim and we were no longer invited, you know that you go by invitation.
And before the earthquake happened, we then received an invite from
Turkey, which the TD (Walter Steenbok) and the coach (Desiree Ellis)
discussed and felt that it was a good thing to do,” he continued.
Motlanthe also addressed the moral implications of going to Turkey at a
time of national disaster, saying that they had written to many
federations and not received an opponent and that it was important for the
team to have the opportunity to prepare for the World Cup.
“But also the coach, we had to take the preparation because the coach
says, ‘I’m in a critical stage, I only have three windows before the World
Cup,” he said. “So if I leave this chance to go, it means I’m left with
two, how do I then choose the team?’ So after having a meeting with the
coach and the technical director we then took a decision that the team
will go and participate,” he added.
Banyana opened their tournament with a 3-0 win over Uzbekistan on
Saturday.
