There will come a time, probably not now, when the country looks back at the current generation of Banyana Banyana players as heroines who paved the way for the little girls out there who aspire to play the beautiful game of football.
It's never pretty when a national team is about to go into a competition as big as the FIFA Women's World Cup and if there are serious issues that then arise, but at times an impasse is necessary to remind the head honchos of South African football that the most important people are the players who give their all on the pitch to represent the country.
The players didn't participate in the final international friendly against Botswana at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday, raising a few concerns on the standard of the pitch, the team's clothing from sponsors, as well the bonuses after FIFA guaranteed each player $30,000 (R565,000), in addition to the $1,560,000 (R30 million) each association in the Women's World Cup will be getting.
It's a matter that has been trending for the past few days on different social media platforms and it's the determination shown by the players to stand their ground that should be appreciated.
They have certainly made a statement and kudos should be given to the team for standing together and not allowing public opinion or any other thing distract them from what they set out to achieve.
Their voices have certainly been heard and this is the perfect opportunity for SAFA to show now, and for years to come, that they are committed to improving the lives of women who give their all, day in and out, for the growth of women's football in the country.
Banyana Banyana have earned the right to walk into any office and make demands for what they feel they are worth. In my time as a football journalist, Banyana have qualified for the Olympics on two occasions, have won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations and are about to go into their second Women's World Cup. If there is one national team that has represented the country well on the international scene, it's Banyana Banyana and SAFA must do more to show how much they appreciate the efforts of this team.
I was at the airport last year when Banyana returned from winning the Women's AFCON and what I saw there was amazing. A team that has often been neglected brought the country together and there was hardly any parking space there, showing just how many people had gone out to appreciate the efforts of the team in securing their maiden major title on the continent.
This team has sacrificed a lot and their efforts in recent days will certainly make life easier for the generations of tomorrow.
