SAFA is trying to dent our euphoria over the 2010 World Cup. The nation has finally caught the fever needed to participate fully in the soccer festival.

SAFA is trying to dent our euphoria over the 2010 World Cup. The nation has finally caught the fever needed to participate fully in the soccer festival.

Now there is a story that at this late stage Safa has yet to finalise Bafana Bafana's wages. This does not make sense, even though Bafana's remuneration is a perennial thorn. Countries such as North Korea named their teams as early as November and agreed on financial terms.

Rumours are that the soccer mother body has left it this late because they were waiting for all the players to arrive in the country. What nonsense.

This trend began in 1998 during the French World Cup when it was said that Bafana might strike because of their pay packet. Some players were blamed for this but the same grandstanding happened during the Confederations Cup last year.

Safa appears to lurch from one crisis to another. They never learn from their past mistakes. The soccer officials should not blame previous administrators since the current crop - at least five of them - have had a long tenure at headquarters.

Africans are said to be procrastinators but it is time that Safa had a plan that is understood by everyone. The Football Players Union is also threatening to throw a spanner into the last minute negotiations. Patriotic South Africans and fans do not need this anxiety.

Please, Safa, get your house in order before the fans get a sour taste fuelled by rumours of a player strike.