Sat May 18 21:03:58 SAST 2013
Sat May 18 21:03:58 SAST 2013

Bafana pay cuts, but Gordon ok

Jul 17, 2012 | Sy Lerman | 19 comments

THE salaries of Bafana Bafana coaches continue to plummet from the heady and extravagant days when Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreira pocketed R1.8m a month.

SATISFIED:Bafana Bafana coach Gordon Igesund says he's getting a fair deal. Picture taken from www.msnbc.msn.com

 Milestone removed from Safa's neck 

It has now been learnt that one of Parreira's assistants, fellow Brazilian Jairo Leal, had been earning R550,000. He was recently released by the South African Football Association. Both men's salaries were largely subsidised by Fifa, while current salaries are paid by Safa alone.

But new coach Gordon Igesund said yesterday he was "entirely satisfied" with the deal he had negotiated with Safa to replace Pitso Mosimane. Igesund said he regarded his package as confidential, but reliable sources said his salary was about half the R800,000 a month Mosimane reportedly earned.

The new salary packages represent the removal of a financial millstone from the neck of Safa, which is now able to pay the national soccer coach and his assistants more realistic salaries.

The salaries of Parreira and Leal had forced Safa into a situation where it had to pay Mosimane, who had succeeded Parreira, more than the assistant coach.

Now that Leal's contract with Bafana has been terminated and he is not part of the technical staff under Igesund, Safa has been able to make a fresh start in assessing the coach's salary, while not having its hands tied by past extravagances.

"Frankly, I'm not interested in what Parreira was getting or what Pitso was getting," said Igesund, who was given a two-year contract.

"I'm being paid what is to me a reasonable and fair amount and I'm going ahead with all the energy at my disposal in trying to do the best I can for Bafana and the country."

While Igesund begins what he considers an "exciting, inspirational endeavour" behind the starting line with Bafana already having dropped four points from their two opening qualifying games for the 2014 World Cup, he is not being distracted by financial permutations. And he is not daunted by the fact that he has been mandated to guide Bafana to next year's Africa Cup of Nations semifinals and also ensure qualification for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

Comments

Sat May 18 21:03:58 SAST 2013 ::
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Jul 17, 2012

Papage

I think we need to introduce " A pay as you go system" that means for any game if you win you get paid and if you lose, No pay, even for the players " No win no pay" for the National Teams. It is not like they need these money after all, their teams pays their salaries, for the National team, it is a pride, honour to be picked, it is a natinal duty, we are all bond to fulfill. I am happy with Gordon, he is so humble and this will take him and the Taem very far, dont be surprise if he beats Brasil in the coming game.
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Jul 17, 2012

mbany8

Good Luck Gordon in all your endeavors.
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Jul 17, 2012

Chresmo

@ SOWETAN ur useless maan ur storie is misleading, what SAFA did was right and for Gordon to accept the post wit that money shows that beeing greedy is not a way to go, instead of writing an article that will show how dedicated is gorden u write dis?? u killing the nation maan NXA!
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Jul 17, 2012

Bumnandibungaphansikwesdwaba

We wish you all the best GE, you were deserve this job and its long overdue
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Jul 17, 2012

Pelezizu

What safa's doing is not right. Had it been Pitso replacing Gordon, n all dis pay cuts....i cn assure u, it was gonna be turned into a racial issue. I wish Gordon and the entire team all the best. SAFA deliberately ignored putting a performance clause on Pitso's contract so he cud milk their coffers dry with no opposition, no wonder he wants to be paid for the remainder of his contract even though he dismally failed.
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Jul 17, 2012

masende

THIS WAS THE DOWNFALL OF SAFA DURING THE DAYZ OF CLIVE BARKE,WE DNT APPRECIATE WHAT IS OURS,THIS IS KAK
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Jul 17, 2012

swona

so pitso who should have not been employed got R800 000,00 and Gordon half of that? hope its a perfomance based contract, if he qualifies, they will adjust his salary to a million a month!
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Jul 17, 2012

ModiseP

This is the clarity to me because coming to money you will have to be careful.I was surprised with the gab between the previous coach and the current one salaries.The world cup coach was subsidised by dollar and the current one paid by rand.The current coach is satisfied with the salaries.Let the music play.
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Jul 17, 2012

WarrenG

Ja if Pitso was replacing Gordon he's have said, "you don't wanna pay me R800 000 cos I'm not white."
But Gordon is bigger than than, he's passionate about Bafana. I have good feelings about Gordon 'silver fox' Igesund
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Jul 17, 2012

mhlupheki

for the love of the game can we once focus on the game and forget about issues that are none of our business. lets support Gordon and the whole team.
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