As published by Tiyani Wa Ka Mabasa in the African Times
Former Banyana Banyana player Jermaine Seoposenwe has painted a grim picture of what life is like as a player for South Africa’s senior women’s national team.
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Seoposenwe, 31, has walked away, but not quietly. Foremost in her mind is the alleged treatment of Banyana Banyana by the South African Football Association (SAFA), and she also had a bone to pick with head coach Dr. Desiree Ellis for her alleged unwillingness to fight for Banyana Banyana against the association.
“It’s been a journey for me in the national team, I think. Like I’ve always said, football has given me everything, and it’s tough to walk away from the national team, I think after 15 years,” said Seoposenwe, in conversation with broadcaster Robert Marawa.
“And the ability that I still have, that I know that I have, as one of the best players in the country. It’s something I feel like I had to do. At the end of the day, I haven’t been happy in the national team for a very long time, and obviously just continuing… Continuing to push through those emotions and those feelings in that setting is tough,” continued Seoposenwe, who plies her trade for Mexican Liga MX Femenil club Monterrey.
“I don’t want to be unhappy at all. I don’t want to continue to struggle for things that, as a national team player, you deserve. So I just think for my happiness, for my well-being, I should walk away.
“I think first and foremost, it’s definitely the association and the treatment of us. Every time we go to a major tournament, we have to fight about money. We have to fight about basically everything, and it’s just like, why do we have to fight? Why can’t you plan out for the year? I mean, FIFA gives you a calendar of what we are going to do? Why don’t you budget for those FIFA dates?
“Why is it so impossible for you to do well by us, to give us the places where we should be staying at, the resources? I can name so many things that happened, but obviously, it’s always this money issue. Like, why is it always an issue? Why can we not get to a point where the association comes to us before a major tournament even happens to say, ‘Hey, we are coming to you and negotiating with you from a transparency [point of view]. This is what’s happening, and this is how we’re going to work, and this is what we’re going to do.’ I can tell you one thing that happened at the WAFCON (in Morocco, where Banyana finished fourth).
“Before the Ghana game, the players were boycotting because we hadn’t come to an agreement with the association, and we left for the game late. We were supposed to leave at 17H30, and we only left at 18H00, got there at 19H00, and kickoff was at 20H00… why is that an issue? Why are we doing these things? And then obviously the country expects us to go on to the field, but they don’t know that we were literally sitting in the hotel waiting on our association to come back to us.”
Before the tournament, Banyana Banyana boycotted training over bonus issues that were unpaid. Seoposenwe confirmed they earn R15 000 for a win, depending on the opponent.
It’s not just about the money, she insisted.
“If you look at players within South Africa, a lot of them rely on the national team, and I think that’s where the association kind of uses it to their advantage.”
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She had some kind words for former Banyana Banyana coach Vera Pauw, but a different opinion on current mentor, Dr. Ellis.
“I don’t have anything against Des, no matter what people say, and at the end of the day I do understand that she’s been given the tools that she has, and she has to work with those tools. But I do believe there’s so much more she can do for the team,” said Seoposenwe.
“Vera Pauw used to go up there and fight for us, and she wasn’t scared of doing that… Des wouldn’t get involved in our fight (against the association).”
Over the years, Banyana Banyana and SAFA have been at loggerheads owing to money issues, and as things stand, there’s no end in sight.
Seoposenwe, however, is hopeful there could be a permanent resolution.
“The association, the coaching, and the culture are why I’m retiring! If we as a nation say we love football as much as we say we do, then we have a responsibility to bring change.
“My hope is that my retirement will start a necessary conversation, one that we have been ignoring for years.”
The Cape Town-born forward is one of the most capped Banyana Banyana players with over 100 caps.
This article has been published in partnership with the African Times.
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