South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) president Thulaganyo Gaoshubelwe has explained that the World Cup-bound Banyana Banyana squad did not "boycott" their friendly against Botswana.
Banyana were set to play a send-off friendly against Botswana on Sunday before leaving for their camp to participate in the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
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However, the country was rocked by a contract stand-off between the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the players, who enlisted SAFPU, to help them negotiate with the association.
Gaoshubelwe says the scenes that happened at Tsakane Stadium were "unfortunate" but denied that the World Cup-bound Banyana squad boycotted the match against Botswana.
"Yesterday's scenes were very unfortunate, however, something had to be done because the rights of women are sacrosanct," Gaoshubelwe said on Morning Live SABC.
"The rights of women in football had to be, first and foremost confirmed that they do have the rights to exist and be affirmed. That they must feel at least there's some appreciation towards them.
"It is common cause that the players never boycotted the game, we've addressed those issues, we've established that. We agreed on that particular meeting. In as much as I don't want to go deeper into the deal but we can confirm that the players were ready, that is why the players were at the stadium," he said.
"The Premier himself (Panyaza Lesufi), when when we briefed the nation, he would have said at no point did Banyana refused to go on to the field and we affirmed that with all the stakeholders."
"The CEO took us at length that the first contract was given to players on a Monday (leading up to the game), some players came later to say they want certain amendments," Lesufi said in a press conference.
"But the final amendments and the collective package from the players was only received on Saturday and it does not mean SAFA was not prepared to listen.
"And it's only around 9:30 this morning (Sunday) that the communique came formally that the players are not honouring the match," he said.
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Gaoshubelwe concluded by suggesting that SAFA should treat Banyana the same way they treat Bafana Bafana players, as these kind of agreements are resolved ahead of time with the men's senior team.
"I would imagine that at the level of Bafana Bafana most of these issues are addressed long before the players get into the field and I think the same principle and process aught to be followed, not only with Banyana but with all teams that represent the country," he went on.
"All of us have learned but we have learned the hard way, that we must address the issues and make sure that everyone's rights is respected and taken to the fore," he added.
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