Bafana Bafana players scored an own goal this week when their demand for bigger bonuses for playing in the Confederations Cup, which kicks off on Sunday, failed.
The South African Football Association (Safa), which is used to such threats when a major event comes around, has refused to budge.
But the public showed their anger on various radio talk shows, slamming ”the greedy” players.
One listener calling in to Radio 702 said: ”When Bafana players start producing results and winning big tournaments, then they can earn the big bucks. They are mediocre at present and should earn their bonuses. They cannot expect money for nothing.”
Other radio listeners on other stations were just as harsh, prompting team captain Aaron Mokoena to release a statement that is expected to be signed by all the players accepting Safa’s terms.
The statement is expected to be released later on Wednesday afternoon.
The players have pulled this trick time and again days before they are due to play in a major tournament. The threats started in 1997, 24 hours before Bafana were to play England at Old Trafford in Manchester in a friendly.
The English media savaged the players on that occasion. The players last threatened to strike in Egypt in 2006, days before the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Bafana ended that tournament in disgrace, losing their three first-round matches without a point or scoring a goal.
The players are believed to have backed down on their demands of a collective pool of R34-million in bonus money. Instead they will get R14-million to share if they win the Confederations Cup.
But one Safa insider said: ”If the players played like world stars they would attract sponsors and be easily marketable.
”That is not the case at present. They beat Poland 1-0 last weekend in a friendly, but that does not mean Bafana are now world beaters. They must go out on the field and prove it and then they can demand bigger appearance money.”
However, Bafana team manager Sipho Nkumane refused to discuss the players’ contracts other than to say he had sorted out the matter and stressed Safa could not increase their bonuses because ”that is what the sponsors offered and what we have budgeted for in the new financial year.”
It is believed Safa offered R90 000 for each player for winning their three first round matches against Iraq, New Zealand and Spain, R150 000 each for winning the semifinal and R250 000 for winning the final, which adds up to R670 000 win bonuses for winning the tournament.
Nkumane did, however, confirm on Wednesday the players had threatened not to attend the banquet in their honour at a Kyalami night spot on Monday night, but after speaking with Nkumane and the technical staff the matter was resolved at midday on Monday.
Said Nkumane: ”I along with the coaches met the players at around midday on Monday and the matter of the banquet and bonuses was resolved.
”I made it clear we could not increase the appearance and bonus money. I told them any player who was not happy to contact me and I would look into it.
”I have not had a complaint, so it is nothing serious.”
Nkumane added the matter was a storm in a teacup as at no time had the players refused or threatened not to train. Said the team manager: ”It will be business as usual and now we and the players will get on with preparing for the Confederations Cup.”
Bafana open their Group A programme against Asian champions Iraq at Ellis Park on Sunday at 4pm. — Sapa