Cup pay-out not for bonuses
The R1-billion windfall the SA Football Association will receive from Fifa for hosting the 2010 World Cup will not be spent on bonuses for soccer or government officials.
The money, which is expected to be paid at the end of September, will be controlled by a trust and specific projects will be earmarked for funding, according to Safa president Kirsten Nematandani.
He said Safa officials met Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke two days after the World Cup final and their instructions were clear.
"They were very clear - the money is not meant for bonuses."
Nematandani dismissed earlier reports that alleged that officials would rake in millions after the World Cup - with local organising committee members expected to get 10% and top Safa officials getting 5% bonuses.
He said Fifa had guaranteed Safa a ''certain amount" before the soccer spectacular but the exact amount would not be known until Fifa completed its audit at the end of September.
Good ticket sales might increase the initial amount.
The trust, to be formed jointly by Safa and Fifa, would include "someone from the government, someone from football and members in good standing in our community," he said.
Nematandani refused to name the trustees.
"The funds are not meant for utilising now, they're for long-term projects," he said, adding that a ''huge chunk" would be used on developing soccer stars.
"We are starting to get our development house in order with grassroots projects," he said.
Plans include the establishment of a coach licensing system, football academies at clubs, and training camps and soccer festivals.
Speaking at the SA National Editors' Forum, in Johannesburg yesterday, Nematandani said pressure had increased on the local football controlling body to ensure that Bafana Bafana improved their current raking of 66th before the next W orld Cup in 2014 in Brazil.
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Cup pay-out not for bonuses
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